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sports Diamars 30 November 2021

Lee Elder, 1st Black golfer to play Masters, dies at age 87

(AP) - Lee Elder, who broke down After his record 12-stroke victory in
racial barriers as the first Black 1997 — the first of five Masters and
golfer to play in the Masters and 15 major titles that Woods has won —
paved the way for Tiger Woods he reflected on the contributions of
and others to follow, has died at Black golfers such as Elder and Char-
the age of 87. lie Sifford.

The PGA Tour announced Elder’s “I thought about those guys coming
death, which was first reported up 18,” Woods said that evening. “I
Monday by Debert Cook of African said a little prayer and said thanks. I
American Golfers Digest. No cause wasn’t the first. I wasn’t the pioneer.
was given, but the tour confirmed El- I thank them. I think that’s why this
der’s death with his family. victory is even more special. Lee, be-
cause of what he did, I was able to
He had been in poor health and wore play here. Because of Charlie, I was
an oxygen tube beneath his nose able to play on the PGA Tour. I lived
when he appeared at the opening of my dream because of those guys.”
the Masters in April. The tour said
he died early Sunday in Escondido, This past April, in the wake of social
California. justice protests that roiled the nation,
the Masters honored Elder by having
“Lee was a good player, but most im- him join Nicklaus and Gary Player game while serving in the Army and, in the ceremonial tee shot with Nick-
portant, a good man who was very for the ceremonial opening tee shots. after his discharge, joined the United laus and Player at this year’s Masters.
well respected by countless people,” Golf Association Tour for Black play-
Jack Nicklaus wrote on his Twit- Elder’s poor health prevented him ers in the early 1960s. Sadly, he was not able to take it. El-
ter account. “The game of golf lost a from taking a swing, but he held up der watched from a chair at the first
hero in Lee Elder.” his driver proudly at the first tee, He developed into one of the UGA’s tee as Nicklaus and Player made their
clearly moved by the moment. best players, winning 18 of 22 tourna- swings.
A Texan who developed his game ments in one dominating stretch, but
during segregated times while cad- “For me and my family, I think it was meager prize money made it tough to But Elder was deeply moved just to
dying and hustling for rounds, Elder one of the most emotional experienc- earn a living. Finally, at the age of 33, be in their company at such a hal-
made history in 1975 at Augusta Na- es that I have ever witnessed or been Elder was able to afford PGA qualify- lowed spot.
tional, which had held an all-white involved in,” Elder said. ing school, where he earned his first
tournament until he received an in- tour card for the 1968 season. Past Masters champions Bubba Wat-
vitation after winning the Monsanto “That morning, you could see the joy son and Phil Mickelson, both in their
Open the previous year. in Lee’s face,” Nicklaus said Monday. The highlight of his rookie year was green jackets, made sure they were
“Gary Player and I were honored to a memorable loss to Nicklaus on the there for the ceremony. So was Cam-
Elder missed the cut at his first Mas- enjoy that moment with him.” fifth hole of a sudden-death playoff eron Champ, one of four players of
ters but forever stamped himself as a at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Black heritage on the PGA Tour.
groundbreaking figure in a sport that Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta Na- Ohio.
had never been known for racial tol- tional and the Masters, called Elder “a “It’s a great honor, and I cherish it
erance. true pioneer in the game of golf.” Elder would go on to capture four very much, and I will always cherish
PGA Tour victories and eight more it,” Elder said.
Twenty-two years later, Woods be- “Lee was an inspiration to so many wins on the PGA Tour Champions
came the first Black golfer to capture young men and women of color for 50-and-over players. He played in Added Nicklaus, “It was long over-
the green jacket, launching one of the not only through his play, but also all four major championships, tying due.”
greatest careers in golf history. through his commitment to educa- for 11th at both the 1974 PGA Cham-
tion and community,” Ridley said in pionship and the 1979 U.S. Open. Robert Lee Elder was born on July
“Lee Elder was a pioneer, and in so a statement. “Lee will always be a part 14, 1934, in Dallas, Texas, the young-
many ways,” Nicklaus said. “Yes, he of the history of the Masters Tour- His best finish in six Masters appear- est of 10 children.
was the first black golfer to play in the nament. His presence will be sorely ances was a tie for 17th in 1979.
Masters Tournament, but that simply missed, but his legacy will continue His father was killed in action during
underlined the hard work Lee put in to be celebrated.” But Elder’s impact on the game went World War II when Elder was 9, and
to further the cause of everyone who far beyond wins and losses, even if it his mother died three months later.
has a dream to play on the PGA Tour Elder got into golf as a caddie, since took decades for his legacy to be fully He was taken in by an aunt, Sarah,
and perhaps thinks there were too that essentially was the only conduit appreciated. when he was 11 and lived for a time
many barriers before them.” Black people had to be permitted on in Los Angeles before returning to
the course. He was able to polish his Elder was 40 when he played in his Texas.
first Masters, so many of his prime
years already stolen from him by the That was about the time Elder played
scourge of racism. a full 18-hole round for the first time,
stoking his love for golf even more.
The PGA had a Caucasian-only rule
until 1961 — 14 years after Jackie He caddied, hustled games when-
Robinson broke baseball’s color bar- ever he could and further developed
rier. It took another 14 years before his skills in the Army while serving
the Masters finally invited a Black under a golf-loving colonel who as-
player. signed him to a special unit where he
could play regularly.
Last year, before the pandemic-de-
layed Masters was played in No- Elder knew Robinson, who died
vember for the first time, Augusta in 1972, and was close with Hank
National formally recognized Elder’s Aaron, who endured racist threats
enormous contributions by setting up throughout his stellar baseball career,
two scholarships in his name at Paine particularly as he approached what
College, a historically Black school in was Babe Ruth’s home run mark.
the east Georgia city.
Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th
The club also invited him to take part homer on April 8, 1974.