Charles Sifford: the PGA’s First Black Golfer
As February is Black History Month, it’s fitting to talk about Charles Sifford, the first African-American to play on the PGA tour. Sifford was born in rural North Carolina in 1922. He started in golf as a caddie in the 1930s, making 60 cents/day. Of course, caddies get to play in their free time and by age 13, Sifford was frequently shooting par.
Charles Sifford won the National Negro Open five times in a row (1952-1956), while repeatedly being denied a PGA card. He was finally invited to the tour in 1960, when the PGA dropped it’s “Caucasian Only” rule, under pressure from the California attorney general.
Even though he was 39 when he joined the PGA, Sifford won two events–the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. He went on the become one of the original members of the Champions Tour in 1975.
Sifford made history again in 2004 when he became the first African-American inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
Two generations of African-American golfers are indebted to Mr. Sifford’s efforts. Tiger Woods was quoted at Mr. Sifford’s induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame as saying, “He has my respect and my gratitude for the sacrifices he made to open the doors to this great game to people of color.”
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5 opinions for Charles Sifford: the PGA’s First Black Golfer
Black History Month around b5 Media
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:04 pm
[…] From “Green Posse,” a look at the first Black player on the PGA Tour […]
Randy Johnson
Mar 10, 2008 at 10:44 am
Watching Joe Louis- A Biography, it told of Joe being the first black to play in a PGA tourney in San Diego around 1951. Mention was made of Charlie Sifford being in the group to bring blacks into golf. Apparently this was not true? Would like to know. Thank you.
Sandy Mitchell
Mar 10, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Hi Randy! Thanks for reading Green Posse. According to Sifford’s World Golf Hall of Fame Bio, he and Louis were part of an all-black foursome at the 1952 Phoenix Open, a non-PGA event. I believe the difference is that Lewis played in 1951 as an amateur and that Sifford was the first African-American player to win a PGA Tour card. You can read more about it here:
http://www.wgv.com/hof/member.php?member=1105
clyde rodney
Jul 28, 2008 at 9:32 am
Mr Sifford should have been inducted years ago.He is a great man who took on the establishment and done us proud.Even though he was hindered in his golf career he did alot for golf.By the way he played along with the fact that he is a proud man.Without his contribution door would still be closed to this day.
John Vaughan
Sep 5, 2008 at 7:55 am
I was lucky enought to have played a round of golf with Mr. Sifford, At Firestone CC in Akron Ohio. On a mini tour called the Ohio Tornado Tour in 1998. He was quite a gentleman. A very humble and gracious man. He still played good golf at his age.
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