Hall-of-Fame Professional Golfer. Called the "Jackie Robinson of golf", he is remembered as the first black to have a major career in his sport. Raised in Charlotte, he began his association with golf by working as a caddy and sneaking onto the Carolina Country Club course when it was closed; by 13 he was shooting par, his trademark cigar and short swing already firmly in place, and was too good for the members to tolerate, and thus moved to Philadelphia where the opportunities were better, though not by much. He worked in a biscuit factory and golfed on a public course, during World War II served in the US Army in the South Pacific, then returned home to find golf still firmly 'white only'. He helped organize a tour for black golfers and became the dominant competitor, though he still had to take abuse when he played against whites. Starting in 1952 he won the UGA National Negro Open five straight times, in 1955 gave Arnold Palmer a run for his money at the Canadian Open, and in 1957 captured the Long Beach Open, then a non-Tour event. In 1961 he was finally given his PGA Tour card, though he was still subjected to threats when he played in that year's Greater Greensboro Open. Mr. Sifford won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open and in 1967 took his first PGA Tour title at the Greater Hartford Invitational. (While he was the first black on the PGA Tour, he was not the first to win a tournament, that distinction having been taken by Pete Brown at the 1964 Waco Turner Open). He played in the US Open and the PGA Championship a few times, though never in the Masters, and in 1969 won the Los Angeles Open; as he passed 50, he became a feared competitor on the PGA Seniors Tour, winning two events including the 1975 PGA Seniors Championship. A 2004 inductee into the World Golf Hall-of-Fame, he was bestowed a 2006 Honorary Doctorate by the University of St. Andrews, received the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award, in 2014 became, along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the third golfer honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, lived out his days in the Cleveland suburbs, and died of the effects of advanced age. At his demise, a golf course in Charlotte carried his name.
Hall-of-Fame Professional Golfer. Called the "Jackie Robinson of golf", he is remembered as the first black to have a major career in his sport. Raised in Charlotte, he began his association with golf by working as a caddy and sneaking onto the Carolina Country Club course when it was closed; by 13 he was shooting par, his trademark cigar and short swing already firmly in place, and was too good for the members to tolerate, and thus moved to Philadelphia where the opportunities were better, though not by much. He worked in a biscuit factory and golfed on a public course, during World War II served in the US Army in the South Pacific, then returned home to find golf still firmly 'white only'. He helped organize a tour for black golfers and became the dominant competitor, though he still had to take abuse when he played against whites. Starting in 1952 he won the UGA National Negro Open five straight times, in 1955 gave Arnold Palmer a run for his money at the Canadian Open, and in 1957 captured the Long Beach Open, then a non-Tour event. In 1961 he was finally given his PGA Tour card, though he was still subjected to threats when he played in that year's Greater Greensboro Open. Mr. Sifford won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open and in 1967 took his first PGA Tour title at the Greater Hartford Invitational. (While he was the first black on the PGA Tour, he was not the first to win a tournament, that distinction having been taken by Pete Brown at the 1964 Waco Turner Open). He played in the US Open and the PGA Championship a few times, though never in the Masters, and in 1969 won the Los Angeles Open; as he passed 50, he became a feared competitor on the PGA Seniors Tour, winning two events including the 1975 PGA Seniors Championship. A 2004 inductee into the World Golf Hall-of-Fame, he was bestowed a 2006 Honorary Doctorate by the University of St. Andrews, received the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award, in 2014 became, along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the third golfer honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, lived out his days in the Cleveland suburbs, and died of the effects of advanced age. At his demise, a golf course in Charlotte carried his name.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Advertisement
