(Memphis) Collin Morikawa has pledged $1,000 for every successful birdie at the next three PGA Tour events to help fight the deadly wildfires in Hawaii that affect him personally.

His grandparents were born in Lahaina, the historic town on Maui where Front Street and all of its restaurants and stores were annihilated by windswept fires that claimed at least 36 lives.

Morikawa still has family living in Maui, although the majority have moved to Oahu.

“I believe they are fine, but waking up this morning and hearing on the news all these people who have died, I’m speechless,” Morikawa said.

“It’s horrible,” he continued. The before and after photos of the fires are heartbreaking, especially knowing that the family on my dad’s side grew up there. We went to these places when we were kids. It’s crazy how many things you take for granted in life, but when you see this, it’s devastating. »

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and champion of two major tournaments over the next two years, Morikawa had six birdies in the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Thursday.

He played 65 and is two shots behind point guard Jordan Spieth.