PGA Tour to honor George Floyd with daily moment of silence

Mourners view the casket of George Floyd during a public visitation at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, U.S., June 8, 2020. /VCG

The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour said on Tuesday it will observe a moment of silence during each round of this week's tournament in Fort Worth, Texas to honor George Floyd, an African American man who died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck.

According to the PGA Tour, the moment of silence in its first tournament back since the COVID-19 shutdown will be observed during the 8:46 a.m. tee times throughout the July 11-14 Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament.

Eight minutes and 46 seconds is the length of time that Floyd was filmed pinned under the officer's knee.

The PGA Tour said in a statement the moment of silence, prayer and reflection is part of its commitment to "amplifying the voices and efforts underway to end systemic issues of racial and social injustices impacting our country."

Jon Rahm of Spain plays a shot during The Players golf match in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S., March 12, 2020. /VCG

Also on Tuesday, some golfers used part of their pre-tournament news conferences to spread a message of unity amid worldwide protests against racism.

The death of Floyd has ignited a wave of protests against the mistreatment of black people.

Golf world no. 2 Jon Rahm has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and explained during a virtual news conference from Colonial Country Club, site of this week's Charles Schwab Challenge, why it was important to do so.

"I've never been racially profiled for the color of my skin, but I have had some experiences. And it's not a good feeling," said Spain's Rahm.

"I can't fathom the reason why anybody would treat somebody differently just the way you look or they sound or what you believe in. We're all the same. We're all human beings, and we should all be treated the same way."

American golfer Harold Varner III plays a shot from a bunker during the Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort and Spa Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S., February 29, 2020. /VCG

World no. 124 Harold Varner III, who is among a handful of black players on the PGA Tour, spoke with Commissioner Jay Monahan last week.

Varner said on Tuesday he was encouraged by the chat to think that the PGA Tour will do its part to keep the fight against racism in the conversation.

"This week won't be the last week, because it's getting to the point where everyone has a voice that if the PGA Tour was to forget it, they would get hounded every day," said Varner.

"So it's just kind of like yes, they're pressured, but I also think that it's the right thing to do, and I think Jay knows that."

Source(s): Reuters