Players wear pink to honour Stewart Cink's wife

The traditional 'Pink Out' on the Sunday of the Players Championship has taken on added significance this year with the recent announcement from the 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink

It has become tradition in recent years for Sunday of the Players Championship to turn pink to help raise awareness of breast cancer.

This year, however, the day has taken on an even more significance with the recent announcement from Stewart Cink about his wife Lisa’s diagnosis with the disease.

All the players are wearing a pink ribbon to show their support and a significant number have also worn pink shirts or hats to add to the statement.

The flowers on Tree Island near the famous 17th green have also been replaced overnight with an exclusively pink floral display.

Earlier this month Cink announced he was taking an indefinite break from the game to help take care of his wife.

He acknowledged the gesture made by the PGA Tour and players earlier today via Twitter.

The Players Championship has supported The Donna Foundation, a breast cancer charity, for a number of years now and has put on several events including the annual Players 5K charity run.

This began in 2009 and allows participants to experience a behind-the-scenes route around the Stadium Course in the week prior to the championship.

The shock news about Cink’s wife was revealed when he withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship, releasing the following statement:

“Last week my wife, Lisa, and I received some unfortunate news. Lisa has been diagnosed with breast cancer – a startling and unexpected revelation for everyone in our family. We are still in the process of figuring out exactly what she is fighting, and the uncertainty continues to be very difficult. However, we serve a great God, and our friends and family have been and will be by her side every step of the way.

“In order to assist Lisa in meeting this challenge, I will be stepping away from competitive golf until circumstances improve for her. Hopefully that day will come quickly. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward.”