Star profile: Lee Elder

Black Enterprise, Sept, 1995 by Eric L. Smith

To compare golfer Lee Elder to historic baseball slugger Jackie Robinson might be a disservice to both men, although comparisons are made often. Both stepped forward to integrate an all-white sport at a time when such an action was unthinkable. While Robinson's struggle in integrating the sport of baseball was difficult, he integrated a team sport. And even the harshest of critics could not long argue his innate ability on a baseball diamond. But Elder had to integrate a sport without teammates to fall back on for support, and where critics can't be silenced by hitting a home run.

Born in 1934, Elder broke new ground by becoming the first black man to ever play The Master's tournament in 1974, at Augusta, Ga., after it had repeatedly snubbed black players, including Charlie Sifford. Elder's overdue invitation came only after turning pro in 1959 and having an exceptional career playing the Black United Golf Association tour until 1967. That year he won 21 out of 23 events and his earnings financed a bid to join the PGA tour.

Despite breaking the color barrier at Augusta, Elder is the first to play down comparisons to Robinson. "Mine was one achievement. So I don't think it compares to what Jackie Robinson did because of what he achieved and how far he went to achieve it," he avers. "The Master's was a one-shot deal, but he had to deal with bigotry on a constant basis."

That said, Bill Dickey, director of the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association, says Elder's efforts in exposing black accomplishments in golf should not be overlooked. "The fact that he was the first to play in the Master's is important, as well as his match against Jack Nicklaus [in 1968] because it was the first time a national audience saw blacks competing on the pro tour against a star like Nicklaus," Dickey says.

The first of Elder's four PGA Tour titles came in 1974 at the Monsanto Open. Another career highlight was his victory over Lee Trevino in 1978 to win the Greater Milwaukee Open. And Elder's career earnings topped $2.4 million this year, making him the 37th leading earner all-time.

A member of the 1979 United States Ryder Cup team, he was inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame because of his contributions to African Americans on the collegiate level, although he never attended college himself. Joining the senior tour in 1984, Elder continues to play today at age 61. He's won eight tournaments total since joining the tour.

"We certainly have accomplished a lot, but there are still incidents of racism that occur on the tour," Elder observes. "But black golfers are here to stay, and we're getting the next generation ready to take our places."