Golf's Role In Ice Bucket Challenge & Stunt Philanthropy

Jason Sobel has gone back a few months and traced the origins of the viral Ice Bucket Challenge and the role a golfer played in fueling some of the movement. Whether you think it's a breathtakingly beautiful charitable act, a silly sensation with a nice outcome for one charity, or the latest sign of the elite passing off the burden to the less fortunate (after all...dumping ice on your head absolves you of a donation), it's worth having a little background info.

Also worth checking out is this column by Michael Hiltzik of the LA Times on the incredible amount of money being raised for a disease afflicting relatively few compared to others, and what this might mean for other charities or the ramifications of emphasizing these kinds of social media stunts to raise money.

Meanwhile, Alex Myers reports that the U.S.A. Ryder Cuppers took part in the challenge after Tom Watson challenged them. Phil Mickelson did not, however join the group.