Tiger Woods, Nike and stories about race in America through golf
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Golfer Tiger Woods tees off during the final round of the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida on December 17, 2023. Mike Ehrman/Getty Images
It took a long time for Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder to receive the attention they deserved as black golf pioneers.
Sifford and Elder were two of the top African-American golfers when the white affiliate of the PGA of America joined them in the United Golf Association. During his 1966 career, Elder won 21 of the 23 events he entered on the Black Tour. Five years ago, Sifford had the honor of becoming Jackie Robinson, the first black member of the PGA Tour in 1961. Sifford and Elder were heroes to generations of black golfers, both professional and amateur. Of course, they weren’t the only black golf pioneers, but they were the ones I knew best. Everyone talked about the greatness of Bill Spiller and Ted Rhodes for putting pressure on the PGA to end the clause, but they were two black golfers who never had a real chance to play on the PGA Tour.
