The first Black man to play at Augusta National received a standing ovation Thursday morning
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A man who will not hit a single shot at the 2021 Masters this year stole the show at Augusta National on Thursday morning. Lee Elder — the first Black man to play in the Masters back in 1975 — was honored by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, active star golfers and a cadre of patrons on the first tee as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit their ceremonial tee shots.
Elder did not participate with a swing, but he did get a standing ovation from everyone in attendance, including past champions Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, who both made appearances in their green jackets. They were joined by the only Black player in this year’s field, Cameron Champ.
Ridley announced at the 2020 Masters in November that Elder would be honored this year, and it was fantastic to see that come to fruition on Thursday, even if he did not feel fit enough to swing a club. Elder played in six Masters overall and never finished better than T17, but he won four times in his PGA Tour career and did something far more important than collecting major championship trophies.
Elder paved the way — even amid threats and animosity — for future Black golfers to compete at the highest level. That’s no small feat, and given the fact that the best player of all-time is also Black and also made history at Augusta National, it’s one of the under-celebrated realities in golf history. That changed this week and specifically on the first tee on Thursday morning.
“Well, I certainly want to say thank you so very much for this great opportunity,” said Elder. “For me and my family, I think it was one of the most emotional experiences that I have ever witnessed or been involved in. It is certainly something that I will cherish for the rest of my life because I have loved coming to Augusta National and playing here the times that I have played here with many of my friends that are members here, and at the request and invitation of Buzzy Johnson, who has also had me.
“But to me, my heart is very soft this morning. Not heavy soft, soft because of the wonderful things that I have encountered since arriving here on Monday and being able to see some of the great friends that I have made over the past years, especially like these two gentlemen that are here. We have competed against each other, and we have certainly enjoyed a lot of pleasant moments. I just want to say thank you so very much to have me here. It’s a great honor, and I cherish it very much, and I will always cherish it, and I want to thank the chairman for extending me this great privilege.”
Lee Elder is joined this morning by special guests including his family, representatives from Paine College and a group of Black PGA professionals. #themasters pic.twitter.com/C9AJSlypF4
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2021
April 8, 2021
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry on Thursday thanked Lee Elder, who became the first Black man to play in the Masters in 1975, for his inspiration and congratulated him on being selected as an honorary starter for this year’s Masters.
Curry posted a video via Twitter, which also featured a golf shot dedicated to Elder:
Stephen Curry @StephenCurry30
Special day. In 1975 Lee Elder broke the color barrier at The Masters, this morning he joins as an honorary starter. As Lee says, you gotta “stay the course” and we all gotta stay the course to continue what Lee started with expanding access to the sport. Congrats to this legend. pic.twitter.com/TqNDiB6DEH
Elder joined Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus on the tee at Augusta National Golf Club to help kick off this year’s quest for the green jacket:
The Masters @TheMasters
Lee Elder is joined this morning by special guests including his family, representatives from Paine College and a group of Black PGA professionals. #themasters pic.twitter.com/C9AJSlypF4
The Texan, who’s now 86, earned an invitation to the 1975 Masters with his victory in the 1974 Monsanto Open. It was one of four victories he achieved on the PGA Tour, and he went on to win eight more tournaments on the Senior PGA Tour.
Elder finished as high as tied for 17th in his five trips to Augusta.
He also helped the United States defeat Europe in the 1979 Ryder Cup, and he received the 2019 Bob Jones Award for a lifetime of sportsmanship in golf.
“I wouldn’t say the country did not welcome me because I feel that the things that I have achieved, like on the United States Ryder Cup team, I tell you: That was one of the greatest experiences that I’ve ever had,” Elder told Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated ahead of this year’s Masters.
And when the opportunity to become an honorary starter was offered by Augusta chairman Fred Ridley, Elder revealed he jumped at the opportunity: “I said, ‘Mr. Chairman, I have time for you anytime, sir.'”
Curry’s comments show the golfer’s impact extended well beyond the course.
| Lee Elder | |||
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 Elder in 1975
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Robert Lee Elder | ||
| Born | July 14, 1934 Dallas, Texas |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) | ||
| Nationality |  |
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| Residence | Pompano Beach, Florida | ||
| Career | |||
| Turned professional | 1959 | ||
| Retired | 2005 | ||
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
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| Professional wins | 16 | ||
| Number of wins by tour | |||
| PGA Tour | 4 | ||
| PGA Tour Champions | 8 | ||
| Other | 4 | ||
| Best results in major championships | |||
| Masters Tournament | T17: 1979 | ||
| PGA Championship | T11: 1974 | ||
| U.S. Open | T11: 1979 | ||
| The Open Championship | T36: 1979 | ||
| Achievements and awards | |||
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