PGA Tour Stars and Top Houston Cancer Doctors Mingle in a Plush Suite: The Houston Open’s Not Just About What Happens on the Course

What: Houston Open Kickoff with PGA Players and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center donors and docs

Where: The Topgolf Swing Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel

PC Moment: PGA Tour players Matt Kuchar, No. 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking; native Texan Chris Stroud; and Hunter Mahan, winner of the 2012 Shell Houston Open; kicked off Houston Open week with a virtual golf fest. The players, who did not fair so well in the tourney, were headliners in the plush suite earlier in the week

M.D. Anderson, official cancer center of the PGA Tour, joined with NBC/Golf Channel analyst Mark Rolfing in hosting more than 40 donors, patients and doctors for a night of feasting and swinging. The party focused on two state-of-the-art simulation screens where guests could choose their golf game challenge. Lucky those amateurs who earned a few tips from Rolfing.

The golf commentator and cancer survivor was treated at M.D. Anderson several years ago. Throughout the Houston tournament, M.D. Anderson hosted complimentary cancer screening at the center’s pavilion where spectators could find shaded bleachers as well as free sunscreen, UV-protectant sunglasses and SPF 30 lip balm.

Since becoming the PGA Tour’s official cancer center in 2015, M.D. Anderson has distributed more than 200 gallons of free sunscreen and conducted more than 1,000 free skin cancer screenings for PGA Tour players, caddies, journalists and fans.

Joining M.D. Anderson at the party were representatives of Southern Company and SERVEPRO, which participated in the cancer center’s Putt To End Cancer fundraising initiative. Each made a $50 donation to M.D. Anderson for every one-putt made. Spectators were able to watch donations roll in with real-time updates at designated locations throughout the course.

Who: Debi Rolfing, Dr. Susan Chon, Dan Blum, Janet McCloskey, Chris Wallace, Thomas Segesta, Nathan Stedham, Laura Dandridge, Dr. Tom Buchholz, Suzan Sherburn, Adrienne Sayward, Pat and Mike Booker, Dr. Jeffrey Gershenwald, Kandi Mahan, Rizzo Arizpe and Dr. Anisha Patel.