Charlie Sifford, the first Black golfer to compete on the PGA Tour, died late Tuesday night. He was 92.
Known as the "Jackie Robinson of golf," Sifford first competed in PGA-sanctioned events after the Caucasian-only PGA of America membership clause was elminated in 1961, and like Robinson faced overt racism in his quest to play professional golf. Before he could join PGA events, Sifford honed his game playing in the United Golf Association, a circuit established in the 1920s by Black golfers which allowed all golfers to play.
In November, Sifford was among 18 Americans to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
World Golf Hall of Fame historian Tony Parker credited Sifford for opening doors for more than Black golfers, and Tiger Woods told the Associated Press via email he may never have taken up the game had it not been for Sifford and Ted Rhodes and Bill Spiller.
"It's not an exaggeration to say that without Charlie, and the other pioneers who fought to play, I may not be playing golf," Woods wrote to the AP. "My pop likely wouldn't have picked up the sport, and maybe I wouldn't have either."
Sifford won PGA Tour events in 1967 and 1969 and captured the 1975 PGA Seniors' Championship.
