Their participation helped open the doors of golf to racial diversity and paved the way decades later for geniuses like Tiger Woods.
The golfer Lee Elder, the first black who disputed the Augusta Masters, passed away at age 87, the PGA Tour announced in a statement.
Elder died on Sunday in Escondido, California, a year after he received a tribute in November 2020. Augusta Masters for his historic participation in 1975.
In addition, last April he was part of the honorary exit of the tournament together with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
In a sport dominated then by sexist and racist attitudes, Elder in 1975 he became the first black golfer to play in Augusta (Georgia, USA) after having overcome numerous obstacles of discrimination in his career.
Their participation helped open the doors of golf to racial diversity and paved the way decades later for geniuses like Tiger Woods.
The PGA Tour record in his obituary of Elder some phrases he said after that pioneering presence in the Augusta Masters.
“I do not want to be remembered just for this. I want to be remembered, if I am remembered, for having been a good golfer,” he then told the media.
Born in Texas and raised by his aunt after the death of his parents, Elder He entered the world of golf as a caddy and gradually made his way as a player.
Throughout his career he won four tournaments of the PGA Tour and in 1979 he also became the first black golfer to participate in the Ryder Cup.
The world of golf joined this Monday to bid Elder farewell with numerous expressions of affection such as the message he sent on Twitter. Jack Nicklaus.
“Lee was a good player, but more importantly, he was a good man who was highly respected by countless people. Golf has lost a hero with Lee ElderNicklaus wrote.
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