Golf pioneer Lee Elder, who broke the race barrier at the Masters, dies at 87
Elder made history in 1975 when he became the first Black golfer to compete at the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. No details about his death were immediately available.
Lee Elder, who was the first Black golfer to play at the Masters, died early Sunday morning at the age of 87.
No cause or details about his death were immediately available, but the PGA Tour said it confirmed Elder's death with his family.
Although there were other professional African American golfers who came before him, Elder made history in 1975, breaking the sport's race barriers when he competed at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia after winning the Monsanto Open, his first pro tournament.
That victory qualified him to play in the prestigious Masters tournament the following year. But even then,
