Black golfer shattered barriers: ‘Lost a hero’
Lee Elder played through racism, breaking down barriers. He carved a path for Tiger Woods and others to follow.
Elder, who fought through numerous obstacles to become the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, died Sunday at 87 in Escondido (San Diego County), the PGA Tour announced Monday.
“The game of golf lost a hero,” 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus said.
His death was reported by Debert Cook of African American Golfer’s Digest. Elder had been in poor health and wore an oxygen tube at the Masters in April, when he appeared with Nicklaus and Gary Player.
Elder made history in 1975 at Augusta National, which had held an all-white tournament until he received an invitation after winning the PGA Tour’s 1974 Monsanto Open.
Elder missed the cut at his first Masters but forever stamped himself as a groundbreaking figure in a sport that had not been known for racial tolerance.
Twenty-two years later, Woods became the first Black golfer to capture the green jacket, launching one of golf ’s greatest careers.
Elder got into golf as a caddie, since that essentially was the only conduit Black players had to be permitted on the course. He was able to polish his game while serving in the Army and, after his discharge, joined the United Golf Association Tour for Black players in the early 1960s.
Elder earned his first PGA Tour card for the 1968 season and went on to capture four PGA Tour victories and eight more wins on the PGA Tour Champions for 50-andover players. He played in all four major championships, tying for 11th at both the 1974 PGA Championship and the 1979 U.S. Open.
The PGA had a Caucasian-only rule until 1961 — 14 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.
It took another 14 years before the Masters finally accepted a Black player, though Elder’s appearance was reportedly accompanied by death threats.
Elder knew Jackie Robinson, who died in 1972, and was close with Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats as he neared Babe Ruth’s home run mark.
Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th homer on April 8, 1974.
Twelve days later, Elder won the Monsanto Open.