BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Charlie Sifford

BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY

Charlie Sifford
— Golfer —
Personal information
Full name	Charles L. Sifford
Born	June 2, 1922 Charlotte, North Carolina
Died	February 3, 2015 (aged 92) Cleveland, Ohio
Nationality	United States
Residence	Shaker Heights, Ohio
Career
Turned professional	1948
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	22
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	2
Champions Tour	1
Other	19
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	DNP
U.S. Open	T21: 1972
The Open Championship	DNP
PGA Championship	T33: 1965
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	2004 (member page)
Old Tom Morris Award	2007
Presidential Medal of Freedom	2014

Charles L. Sifford (June 2, 1922 – February 3, 2015) was a professional golfer who was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedomin 2014.

Early life and career

Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen. Later he competed in the golf tournaments that black golfers organized for themselves as they were excluded from the PGA of America, and worked as a personal golf coach for band leader Billy Eckstine. He first attempted to qualify for a PGA Tour event at the 1952 Phoenix Open, using an invitation obtained by former World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis and was subjected to threats and racial abuse there and at other tournaments.

In 1957 he won the Long Beach Open, which was not an official PGA Tour event, but was co-sponsored by the PGA and had some well known white players in the field.^[1] He became a member of the Tour in 1961 (thus becoming the first African-American to join the PGA Tour^[2]), and went on to win two official money events. He also won the 1975 PGA Seniors' Championship, then the leading tournament for golfers over fifty.

Death

Sifford was hospitalized for a stroke one month prior to his death in Cleveland, Ohio.^[3] He died on February 3, 2015 following that stroke at the age of 92.^[3]

Honors

In 2004, Sifford became the first African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.^[4] He chose fellow Hall of Fame member South African Gary Player to present him for induction. On June 22, 2006, he received an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews as a Doctor of Laws. He also received the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, GCSAA's highest honor.

In 2009, the Northern Trust Open created an exemption for a player who represents the advancement of diversity in golf; it is named in honor of Sifford and is referred to as the Charlie Sifford Exemption.^[5]

In 2011 Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation renamed Revolution Park Golf Course to Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park.^[6]

President Barack Obama awarded him the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.^[2]^[7]

Professional wins

PGA Tour wins

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Aug 20, 1967	Greater Hartford Open Invitational	−12(69-70-69-64=272)	1 stroke	Steve Oppermann
2	Jan 12, 1969	Los Angeles Open	−8 (63-71-71-71=276)	Playoff	Harold Henning

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1969	Los Angeles Open	Harold Henning	Won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (12)

1952 UGA National Negro Open
1953 UGA National Negro Open
1954 UGA National Negro Open
1955 UGA National Negro Open
1956 UGA National Negro Open, Rhode Island Open
1957 Long Beach Open
1960 UGA National Negro Open, Almaden Open (unofficial win - one year prior to becoming a PGA Tour event)
1963 Puerto Rico Open
1971 Sea Pines
1975 Northern Ohio PGA Championship