Each year, Shriners Hospitals for Children chooses 22 standard-bearers to represent each of our facilities. This year due to the effects of coronavirus they couldn’t attend, but PGA TOUR player Maverick McNealy and Under Armour wanted to do something really special for each of them.
The 22 Standard Bearers received a box filled with Under Armour gear and their reactions were priceless. As they pulled each item out of the box they all had a huge smile on their face.
“Thank you Under Armour and thank you Shriners for all of your support, I wouldn’t have made it to where I was today,” said Samantha who is a Shriners patient and a golfer. “I wouldn’t be able to play golf, probably wouldn’t be able to walk as well as I do, I live pretty painless now and I feel stronger every day.”
McNealy is actively involved in giving back to our hospitals. Back in 2017 during his visit to northern California he said, “Coming off of my first professional PGA TOUR event, it was both grounding and inspiring to visit the Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California. Learning about the areas of specialty care provided was eye-opening, but what will stick with me the longest are the amazing patients that I got to meet and the smiles on their faces the first time they held a golf club.”
In this year’s tournament, McNealy shot 1-over 72 in round one. He hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation, with no misses on putts within 10 feet. He finished round two tied for 121.
History of Standard Bearers
The term “standard bearer” literally means “one who bears a standard or banner,” a standard being a symbolic emblem such as a flag, or “one that leads an organization, movement, or party.”
The standard bearer is an incredibly important role in golf, in an extremely high-profile position. Our standard bearers will be right in the middle of the action and in a unique position to see the event from inside the ropes, building memories that will stay with them forever.