Travelers chairman dies fortnight after Furyk gesture

Jay Fishman - one of the men behind a $58,000 charity donation awarded to Jim Furyk following his record-breaking round of 58 a fortnight ago - has died at the age of 63 following a battle with ALS.

Furyk was awarded the amount, to be given to a charity of his choice, after becoming the first player to shoot 58 in a PGA Tour event, during the final round at the Travelers Championship.

Inspired by Travelers executive chairman Fishman, Furyk asked for the entire sum to be donated to the Bruce Edwards Foundation for ALS Research.

However, former CEO Fishman and chief administrative officer Andy Bessette pledged half of the amount to the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation.

Speaking at the time, Fishman said: "Jim and his family deserve the opportunity to do good things for the causes that matter deeply to them, and we are enormously appreciative of their contribution to allow us to carry on in the Bruce Edwards and Tom Watson tradition."

Travelers confirmed on Friday that Fishman had passed away, commenting: "We are greatly saddened by the loss of our esteemed colleague and friend. Our thoughts are with his wife Randy and the entire Fishman family during this difficult time."

ALS, also known as motor neurone disease, is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system.