The Memphis Open is a staunch supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, so much so that it changed its name. The event has raised more than $21 million for the hospital. Funds raised by the St. Jude Classic help ensure that St. Jude continues research that, often, has proven itself very responsible to contributing to the survival of a very sick child. Most importantly, the tournament has helped say yes to helping the poor. 'St. Jude's thanks the PGA for its help,' said a recent hospital spokesperson. 'Our continuation of our promise to ensure that no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay owes much to this great golf Open.'

The tournament was set into motion in 1958 with the name Memphis Open even though many of the first tournaments were played in Cordova, Tennessee. Actor Danny Thomas, known for his role in Hemingway movies in the 50s, lent his name to the struggling tournament in its early development on the condition that St. Jude's Research Hospital would be named the Official Tournament Charity permanently. Not too long after that, President Gerald Ford nailed a hole-in-one during the Open. And the St. Jude's has been getting steadily more popular and more important to the PGA ever since. Also very popular is the seersucker jacket that goes to the tournament champ each year.