Elder, first Black golfer at the Masters, dies at 87
Lee Elder, who broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow, has died at the age of 87.
The PGA Tour announced Elder’s death, which was first reported Monday by Debert Cook of African American Golfers Digest. No cause or details were immediately available, but the tour said it confirmed Elder’s death with his family.
A native Texan who developed his game during segregated times while caddying, Elder made history in 1975 at Augusta National, which had been an all-white tournament until he received an invitation after winning the Monsanto Open the previous year.
Elder missed the cut at his first Masters but forever stamped himself as a groundbreaking figure in a sport that had never been known for racial tolerance.
Twenty-two years later, Woods became the first Black golfer to capture the green jacket, launching one of the greatest careers in golf history.
This past April, in the wake of social justice protests that roiled the nation, the Masters honored Elder by having him join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for the ceremonial opening tee shots.
Elder was in poor health and unable to take a swing, but he held up his driver proudly at the first tee, clearly moved by the moment.
“For me and my family, I think it was one of the most emotional experiences that I have ever witnessed or been involved in,” he said.
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, called Elder “a true pioneer in the game of golf.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lee Elder,” Ridley said in a statement. “Lee was an inspiration to so many young men and women of color not only through his play, but also through his commitment to education and community. Lee will always be a part of the history of the Masters Tournament.”
Elder had four PGA Tour victories and eight more wins on the PGA Tour Champions for 50-and-over players. TIGER: RETURN TO THE TOP NOT ‘REALISTIC’ >> Tiger Woods says he expects to play golf again, just not very often, and he doesn’t see himself reaching the top of the sport again because “I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”
He says he can see himself picking certain tournaments to play, but not a full-time schedule.
His extensive video interview with Golf Digest, with whom he has a financial relationship, was published Monday ahead of his first press conference
since his right leg was badly damaged in a Feb. 23 car crash in the Los Angeles suburbs.
The 15-time major champion didn’t make it sound as though a return was around the corner.
“I have so far to go,” he said. “I’m not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg.”
College football
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Kelly is Notre Dame’s all-time winningest coach and has led the Fighting Irish to a pair of College Football Playoff appearances among five straight double-digit winning seasons.
No previous Notre Dame coach has ever left the Irish, winners of eight national championships as voted on by the AP, to take a job at another school.
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SMU earlier Monday named Miami offensive coordinator and former Dykes assistant Rhett Lashlee as his replacement there. WASHINGTON HI RES DE BOER AS COACH >> Washington hired Fresno State’s Kalen DeBoer to lead the Huskies, handing a program that has struggled offensively to a coach with a track record of productive and creative offenses.
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