WATCH: Will Zalatoris and Max Homa Spend Wholesome Time With Children at St. Jude’s Hospital

As the golfers made it to Memphis for the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational this week, children from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital customized some golf shoes as some extra special motivation. PGA Tour shared a video of the same, and fans were in awe of the initiative. St. Jude’s hospital has been a designated charity for the World Golf Championship event for decades, and the art created only helps emphasize the message their hospital is trying to send across.

Max Homa and Will Zalatoris receive custom shoes from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s patients

In the video shared by PGA Tour, Will Zalatoris and Max Homa spoke to the kids who designed the shoes for them. Both are FootJoy athletes and were given customized FootJoy shoes. “You’re going to be able to design a show,” Zalatoris tells the children. “And I’m going to be playing wearing that shoe all week”. 

“So if you could design a shoe what would you like the first thing to be on it,” Homa asks. The kid replies with “St. Jude”, explaining that as not everyone gets a chance to come online and say things, he would like to say thank you.

Zalatoris even jokes with the child he is speaking to, who says he wants bright colors and hippos. The 2020 TPC Colorado Championship winner says his fiance (Caitlin Sellers) made fun of him for liking them. Homa, on the other hand, suggested that they could put some junk food on the show as they are eating healthy. They discuss nuggets, the child saying “motivation is key” after Homa explains how simply looking at the nugget would help.

In the latter part of the video, the golfers make their way to meet the children, revealing the final product. One shoe had a basketball on it with a hippo added on the back while “I love (heart) St. Jude” was written at the side. The other one Homa unboxed was blue and had “motivation is key” and another quote asking Homa to keep smiling on it. As promised, one side had french fries and nuggets.

The video ended with the golfers telling the kids they would get one pair each, Homa saying “we nailed this” as the screen fades away.

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How does the St. Jude-WGC partnership help those in need?

St Jude’s founder Danny Thomas started their partnership with Memphis leaders in 1970, making it the charity for the golf tournament. Since then, they have collected over $50 million. Other than Homa and Zalatoris, 30 more sponsored players will wear the shoes, the autographed ones being auctioned off. Not only does this help the children, but also gives fans an autographed shoe.

Apart from shoes, TaylorMade putter covers and PING golf bags will also have art on them. Athletes sponsored by the same will be using the products and auctioning them later on.

According to reports, St Jude’s treatments have increased the cancer survival rate to an impressive 80 percent. When it opened around 60 decades ago, the rate was 20 percent. That being said, events like the WGC are a reason why patients at St. Jude never have to foot a bill.

READ MORE: Why Did Will Zalatoris Withdraw From The Open Championship 2021?