Fil-Aussie golfer Jason Day loses kin to Haiyan

SYDNEY, Australia – Australian golfer Jason Day will tee off at the World Cup at Royal Melbourne this week after learning that eight relatives died when Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) smashed into the Philippines.

The world number 20, who will partner Adam Scott as they attempt to wrest the trophy from the United States, lost his grandmother, an uncle and six cousins, his mother Dening told Monday’s (November 18) Gold Coast Bulletin.

“My daughter has been updating him but I don’t want to bother him because he has commitments,” she said.

“There will be plenty of time to talk after (the World Cup). He’s representing his country so I don’t want him worrying about anything apart from golf.”

The November 8 super storm, packing some of the strongest winds ever recorded, has left an estimated 1.9 million-3.0 million people displaced, while the official death toll is 3,976 with 1,590 people missing.

Day’s mother grew up in the region devastated by Haiyan but migrated to Australia three decades ago, where she raised her son in a small town south of Brisbane.

Day has since risen through the ranks to become one of the world’s top players, winning his first US PGA event at the Byron Nelson Championship in 2010.

While 8 relatives perished, one aunt was found alive despite being swept to another village, while another aunt’s family survived after binding themselves together with rope and taking refuge in an attic, the report said.

“It was so hard because we couldn’t get hold of anybody,” Dening said, adding that her niece eventually put an update on Facebook.

“We thought my entire family had died and it was three days later we found out some had lived.”

She added: “I have to be strong for my children but when I’m asleep and alone, I mourn.”

The World Cup runs from November 21-24. – Rappler.com

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