Aside From Tiger Woods, Other Black People Who Broke Barriers in Golf

Cedric The Entertainer and Smokey Robinson at the Saticoy Club on August 12, 2024.Photo: PRecise Communications

August is also National Golf Month but few know that Black folks have always had a rich history in the sport. Though it was initially deeply segregated and Black folks sidelined, golf has slightly evolved over the years to become more inclusive. However, it still has a long way to go.

One person working to diversify the sport is Cedric The Entertainer, who hosted his 11th annual Celebrity Golf Classic at the Saticoy Club in Somis, California earlier this month. Presented by Lexus, the tournament kicked off with a Hawaiian themed party at Canyon Club which featured a silent auction and live auction. Proceeds from both events benefited the Kyles Family Foundation which supports the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo. With Cedric The Entertainer’s event advocating for Black people in golf, here is a look at the most groundbreaking figures in the sport.

In 1896, John Shippen—whose father was Black and mother was Indian—played in the second U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills at 17. He worked at the venue as a caddie but some of the professional players said they’d boycott when they discovered Shippen’s race. However, USGA President Theodore Havemayer defended Shippen, who went on to play five more U.S. Opens.

Joseph Bartholomew, a New Orleans native, created a course at Metairie Golf Club in his hometown in 1922. However, due to the club’s segregation policy, he wasn’t allowed to practice or play at the course. Still, Bartholomew went on to build numerous public courses in the New Orleans area—but wasn’t allowed to play at them for years.

In 1926, Robert Hawkins put on his first tournament for Black players. He stages another the following year. In 1928, Hawkins founded the United Golf Association which devised a tour for players shut out from PGA events.

Ted Rhodes became the second Black person to play in the U.S. Open in 1948.

In 1947, Ann Gregory was the first Black golfer to play the 18-hole city-owned course in Gary, Ind. In 1956, she then became the first Black woman golfer to play in a U.S. Women’s Open and, two months later, a U.S. Women’s Amateur.

In 1961,Charlie Sifford was the first Black player to receive a PGA Tour card. Six years later, he won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. Sifford was also victorious at the 1975 PGA Seniors’ Championship and the 1980 Suntree Classic on what is now the Champions Tour.

Charlie Sifford would later become the first Black person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Tennis legend Althea Gibson was the first Black person to compete on the LPGA Tour in 1963.

Pete Brown was the first Black player to win a PGA-sanctioned event in 1964 called the Waco Turner Open. Brown was also victorious in the 1970 Andy Williams San Diego Invitational.

Renee Powell was the second Black person to join the LPGA Tour in 1967 and retired in 1980 after competing all across the world. Powell joined the PGA of America in 1996 and received the First Lady of Golf Award in 2003.

Lee Elder was the first Black person to play in the Masters in 1975. He didn’t make the cut. However, Elder went on to win four times on the PGA Tour and eight times on the Champions Tour.

In 1994, Tiger Woods won his first of three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles. Three years later, he became the first Black person to win the Masters as well as the youngest winner. In 2000, Woods won the U.S. Open and British Open to become the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam. That same year, he won nine times on the PGA Tour. In 2001, he was victorious in the Masters to complete the “Tiger Slam,” garnering him all four major championship trophies at the same time.

In 2011, Joseph Bramlett made his PGA Tour debut after receiving his playing privileges at Q-School the year before. Bramlett was the first Black player to make the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.

In 2018, Cameron Champ was the first Black player to win on the Web.com Tour. That same year, Champ became the seventh Black player to win on the PGA TOUR.

Black men were front and center at the Cedric The Entertainer’s Classic, with players including: Smokey Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Malik Whitfield, Byron Scott, David Justice, Marcellus Wiley, Jimmy Rollins, Brooklyn McLinn, Gary Sheffield, Pete Shaw, and Adrian Holmes.

Cedric The Entertainment shared his gratitude with The Root and how he is truly in awe of how much support the event has gotten over the years.

“I mean, anybody knows who does one of these events knows it takes a great deal of support. We are really happy to have Lexus with us from the very beginning and now to year 11. Man, it’s just a celebration of the work that we try to do, how we try to give back. It is about being an example for young people to see how you can give back to your community.”