Charlie Sifford (June 2, 1922 – February 3, 2015)
So we all know about the great Jackie Robinson breaking color barrier in major league baseball. But do you know the name of the golfer who paved the way for Tiger Woods! I didn’t when I saw his name among the recent deaths today at Wikipedia his name is Charlie Sifford. Charlie was the first African-American to play on the PGA Tour.
Charlie Sifford was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. He began to caddy ar 13 and moved to Philadelphia at the age of 17, where he began to play golf against black players. He began his professional career in 1948, playing in tournaments organized by black golfers, much like Negro league baseball. He excelled in the league winning the United Golf Association’s National Negro Open six times, H won in consecutive years from 1952 through 1956! Then came the hard part. From Wikipedia……
Sifford first attempted to qualify for a PGA Tour event at the 1952 Phoenix Open, using an invitation obtained by former World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Sifford was subjected to threats and racial abuse there and at other tournaments.[6]
In 1957, Sifford won the Long Beach Open, which was not an official PGA Tour event, but was co-sponsored by the PGA and had some well-known white players in the field.[7] Sifford competed in the U. S. Open in 1959 for the first time, and tied for 32nd place.[2] He became a member of the Tour in 1961, thus becoming the first African-American to join the PGA Tour.[1] He went on to win two official money events, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open,[8] and finished in the top 60 in overall winnings in his first nine years as a member of the PGA Tour. Read More
For all his accomplishments and contributions to golf Charlie Sifford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded the Old Tom Morris Award in 2007, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, and an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews
Charlie Sifford passed away on February 3, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio, following a stroke at the age of 92.
Links
Wikipedia
Charlie Sifford – At PGA Tour Site
Charlie Sifford profile at World Golf Hall of Fame
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