Charlie Sifford became the first African-American to join the PGA Tour in 1961.

Born: June 2, 1922

Died: Feb. 3, 2015

His story: Charlie Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and started working as a golf caddie when he was 13. Four years later he moved to Philadelphia and played against black golfers. He made his professional debut in 1948. He earned six United Golf Association National Negro Open championships, including five straight from 1952-56. He also tried to qualify for PGA Tour events during that stretch, his first attempt at the 1952 Phoenix Open after getting an invite from Joe Louis. He won the 1957 Long Beach Open, a PGA co-sponsored event. He tied for 32nd in the 1959 U.S. Open. Sifford faced threats at tournaments because he was black. He joined the PGA Tour in 1961 after the end of the “Caucasian-only” membership clause. He won two money events during his career, the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. His best finish in a major was 21st place at the 1972 U.S. Open. He won two senior tour championships, including the 1975 Senior PGA Championship. He became the first black golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.

Fast fact: Sifford, at age 92, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014.

Quotable: “Golf was not a game for ghettos. Neither did it leave any time for carrying picket signs, joining demonstrations or running for office. Charlie birdied, not talked, his way through society prejudice. He broke barriers by breaking par. His weapon was a nine-iron, not a microphone,” Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray wrote before Sifford won the 1969 Los Angeles Open.

An illustration from "Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Line in Golf".
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An illustration from “Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Line in Golf”.

Charlie Sifford: golf’s first Black professional who paved the way for Tiger Woods

(CNN)When Charlie Sifford tried to play with the White golfers, he was told no.

When he politely asked again after participating in events solely for Black players, he was on the receiving end of racist abuse or even death threats.
But Sifford did not give up.
With the backing of California attorney general Stanley Mosk and with fellow trailblazer Jackie Robinson by his side, Sifford became the first Black player to play on the PGA Tour in 1959.
And if you visit the Tiger Woods exhibition at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., you’ll see a photo of Sifford.

Tiger Woods with Sifford during a practice round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in 2009.
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Tiger Woods with Sifford during a practice round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in 2009.
In breaking through the ‘Caucasian only’ clause in golf, Sifford helped open the door for other Black golfers, including the most famous Black golfer of all time, Woods.
And it’s something Woods recognized, saying in 2015 following Sifford’s death that he himself might not have been a professional golfer if it hadn’t been for Sifford.
“He’s like the Grandpa I never had,” Woods said after a practice round in advance of the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the day after Sifford’s death. “It’s been a long night, and I’m sure it will be a long few days. He fought, and what he did, the courage for him to stick with it and be out here and play.
“I probably wouldn’t be here (without Sifford). My dad would never have picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not? But he broke it down.”
While Sifford was the first Black player to make it through in golf, he had someone close to him to lean on.
Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball as a player in 1947, was a friend of Sifford’s, and from his own experiences, passed on some advice to the golfer before he started his journey to make it onto the Tour.
“Jackie told him that he’s going to have to face up to a lot of things, not respond to a lot of things because once he did that, it would be harder for him and harder for the people coming up behind him,” Charles Sifford, Charlie’s son, remembers.
“So he kept a stiff upper lip, bit his tongue and just dealt with what was presented towards him because he knew if he messed up that it would be even harder for the next guy coming along.”
READ: Phil Mickelson’s ‘simply amazing’ win and a victory against his doubters

Sifford studies a shot in the FHP Health Classic at the Ojai Inn Country Club in Ojai, California.
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Sifford studies a shot in the FHP Health Classic at the Ojai Inn Country Club in Ojai, California.

Having to move

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1922, Sifford got into golf through the only avenue available to a young, Black kid — caddying.
But he wanted to play the game — at the age of 13, he could shoot a par round of 18 holes — and not carry someone else’s bag.
However, growing up in the age of segregation, opportunities for him to gain experience on courses weren’t easy to come by.
He did eventually begin playing professionally in 1948, but — because of the so-called “Caucasian only” clause which blocked Black players from playing with their White counterparts — Sifford had to settle for playing in Black-only competitions.
By the time Sifford was in his 30s, segregation laws were slowly being abandoned, but golf proved less quick in moving with the times.
“In 1959, you still had the ‘Caucasian only’ clause, and it was easy to see how it could persist because golf was played on these private clubs, and they were able to continue to enforce the segregation rules,” Nancy Churnin — author of “Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf” — told CNN Sport.

Sifford practices on the range.
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Sifford practices on the range.
“So if you can’t step foot in these private clubs, how are you going to play?”
Sifford’s journey to play on the PGA Tour was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was something he worked to achieve for years.
His first attempt to break onto the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) Tour in 1952 was met with vitriol and racial pressure.
At the Phoenix Open, Sifford and his all-Black foursome — which included the heavyweight boxer Joe Louis — found excrement in the cup of the first hole and had to wait nearly an hour for it to be replaced.
Unable to display his ability with all the best players, Sifford took his talents elsewhere — to great success.
He won the United Golf Association’s National Negro Open six times, securing consecutive victories from 1952 through 1956.
However, his dream was to showcase his abilities on the biggest stage in golf with the best in the business, and that meant making some sacrifices, as his son, Charles, remembers.
“When I was about 10 years old, I realized that we lived in Philadelphia, and my father really couldn’t play in a lot of tournaments,” he told CNN Sport. “There wasn’t a lot of exposure to golf on the East Coast so we moved to the West Coast when I was 10. And that’s when he told me that in order to succeed or have a chance to succeed, we had to move west.”

Sifford is presented with the North-South Negro Golf Tournament trophy by night club celebrity Nat "King" Cole.
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Sifford is presented with the North-South Negro Golf Tournament trophy by night club celebrity Nat “King” Cole.

Breaking through

Baseball star Robinson was a figure of inspiration and an example of what Sifford hoped to achieve in golf. But Sifford also realized he was going to need some legal help.
After his move out to the West Coast of the US, Sifford became friends with California attorney general Stanley Mosk.
Mosk was Jewish and had also experienced discrimination firsthand. He played golf at the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, which allowed members from the Jewish community when other clubs didn’t allow them access.
Award-winning actor Billy Crystal, in his eulogy for Muhammad Ali at the great boxer’s funeral in 2016, recalled an incident which highlighted golf’s closed-door policy.
Ali invited his good friend Crystal to go for a run on a golf course, not realizing that the club didn’t allow Jewish members.
“(Ali) was incensed: ‘I’m a Black Muslim and they let me run there. Little brother, I’m never gonna run there again,'” Crystal remembers Ali saying.

Billy Crystal and Muhammad Ali at Audemars Piguet's Time To Give Celebrity Watch Auction For Charity, held at Christie's Auction House in New York City in 2000.
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Billy Crystal and Muhammad Ali at Audemars Piguet’s Time To Give Celebrity Watch Auction For Charity, held at Christie’s Auction House in New York City in 2000.
Sifford’s skill impressed Mosk immediately. And the fact that someone with such ability was unable to perform on the biggest stage angered him.
So Mosk set about helping Sifford in his quest to play on the PGA Tour.
As the attorney general of California, Mosk was able to bring about some political sway to Sifford’s battle. Later, Mosk served as Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court for 37 years — the longest tenure in that court’s history.
After years of letters and conversations, Sifford finally earned a PGA Tour player card in 1960 at the age of 39, becoming the first Black player to play on the Tour.
A year later, following significant pressure, the PGA Tour dropped its “Caucasian only” membership clause.
However, Sifford was consistently subjected to racist abuse from White golfers and spectators.
His son Charles also remembers hearing stories about death threats sent to his father during those years.
“Several times when he was playing down in the South (region of the US), he had a couple of death threats,” Charles explained. “People would call him at his hotel room and told him that if he showed up at the golf course, they were going to kill him.
“He said: ‘Well, you’re just going to have to do that because I’m showing up at the golf course.’ So he was just that determined not to let anybody stand in his way and doing what he wanted to do. And he had that drive in him. The more you tried to stop him, the more he was going to try to succeed.”

An illustration from "Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Line in Golf".
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An illustration from “Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Line in Golf”.

Change in the wind

Although he was late into his 30s when he made it onto the PGA Tour, Sifford was still able to show he could compete against the best golfers — despite the hostility he encountered, both on and off the golf course.
Churnin recalls reading about hotels that wouldn’t rent him rooms or clubs that still wouldn’t let him eat with other professionals or use the locker room because of his skin color.
However, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open — now the Travelers Championship — in Connecticut proved a watershed. “That was the first time the crowd was on his side,” according to Churnin.
And it appeared to make a difference, as Sifford claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory at the event, becoming the first Black player to earn a PGA Tour win.

Sifford is presented a check for $20,000 plus the trophy after winning the Los Angeles Open.
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Sifford is presented a check for $20,000 plus the trophy after winning the Los Angeles Open.
Although he wasn’t aware his dad had won because there wasn’t wall-to-wall TV golf coverage as there is today, Charles remembers a palpable change in Sifford after the momentous victory.
“I saw it in the newspaper, and I was really excited for him because that was a lifelong dream to be able to win on the PGA Tour. And it took a lot of pressure off of him. He appeared to be more relaxed knowing that he did it once, and there was always a possibility he could do it again.”
Sifford would go on to win the 1969 Los Angeles Open (now The Genesis Invitational) as well as the 1975 Senior PGA Championship and become an original member of PGA Tour Champions, where he won the Suntree Classic.
In 2004, he became the first Black golfer to be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Sifford during the Ralph's Senior Classic tournament on October 21, 1994 at the Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles.
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Sifford during the Ralph’s Senior Classic tournament on October 21, 1994 at the Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles.

Paving the way

President Barack Obama also awarded Sifford the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom “for altering the course of the sport and the country he loved.”
Although Charles admits that Sifford was “highly disappointed” there hasn’t been a huge influx of Black golfers following him, being the first Black player on the PGA Tour was something he was extremely proud of.
Churnin says it wasn’t for lack of effort or commitment from Sifford that the number of Blacks following in his golfing footsteps wasn’t massive.

Then US President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Sifford on November 24, 2014.
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Then US President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Sifford on November 24, 2014.
“We all have different tools at our disposal,” she explained. “Some of us use words; some of us use music; some of us will run for office, some of us will be legal scholars.
“We all come into this world and our job as we come into this world is to try to make the world a better place — a better, a more equal, a more just, a kind, a more loving, a more inclusive place. This is a man who used the tool of the golf club to fight for justice. He knew he was not going to see all the fruits of that fight in his own lifetime.
“But he used his golf club for fairness, equality, to make the world a better place for others. And he got to see the promised land from where he was, because now that he knocked down this door, he had made it a place where others behind him could go and realize their dreams on the golf course.”

Charlie Sifford

Charlie Sifford
Charlie Sifford 1961.JPG
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Sifford in 1961
Personal information
Full name Charles Luther Sifford
Born June 2, 1922
Charlotte, North Carolina
Died February 3, 2015 (aged 92)
Cleveland, Ohio
Nationality
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 United States
Residence Brecksville, Ohio[1]
Career
Turned professional 1948
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins 22
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 2
PGA Tour Champions 1
Other 19
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament DNP
PGA Championship T33: 1965
U.S. Open T21: 1972
The Open Championship DNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2004 (member page)
Old Tom Morris Award 2007
Presidential Medal
of Freedom		 2014

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Charles Luther Sifford (June 2, 1922 – February 3, 2015) was an American professional golfer who was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. He won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. He also won the United Golf Association‘s National Negro Open six times, and the PGA Seniors’ Championship in 1975.

For his contributions to golf, Sifford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded the Old Tom Morris Award in 2007, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, and an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews. Lee Trevino referred to Sifford as the “Jackie Robinson” of golf, and Tiger Woods acknowledged that Sifford paved the way for his career.

Early life and career

Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1922. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen. He moved to Philadelphia when he was 17 years old, where he played against local black golfers.

Sifford began golfing professionally in 1948. He competed in the golf tournaments that black golfers organized for themselves as they were excluded from the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). Sifford won the United Golf Association‘s National Negro Open six times, including consecutive wins from 1952 through 1956. Sifford later worked as a valet and golf instructor to the singer Billy Eckstine, who also financially supported his career when he was unable to find sponsorship.

Sifford 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. Sifford was subjected to threats and racial abuse there and at other tournaments.

In 1957, Sifford 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. Sifford competed in the U. S. Open in 1959 for the first time, and tied for 32nd place. He became a member of the Tour in 1961, thus becoming the first African-American to join the PGA Tour. He went on to win two official money events, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, and finished in the top 60 in overall winnings in his first nine years as a member of the PGA Tour. He also won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open and at the 1971 Sea Pines. He tied for 21st place at the 1972 U.S. Open, his best finish in a major tournament. He competed in the PGA Seniors’ Championship, then the leading tournament for golfers over fifty, winning the event in 1975.

Personal life

Sifford’s wife, Rose, died in 1998. They had two sons, Charles Jr. and Craig.

Sifford, a resident of Brecksville, Ohio, was hospitalized for a stroke one month prior to his death in Cleveland, Ohio.[13] He died on February 3, 2015, following that stroke at the age of 92.

In July 2015, Craig Sifford and his wife, Sandra, were indicted and accused of spending more than a million dollars of Charlie Sifford’s money. A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted them with three counts of theft, one count of money laundering, and one count of unauthorized use of property. Sandra Sifford is also facing an additional charge of receiving stolen property.

Honors

Lee Trevino said of Sifford, “You have to put him in the Jackie Robinson category”.[10] Tiger Woods named his son Charlie after him and referred to Sifford as “the Grandpa I never had,” and that, without Sifford, “I probably wouldn’t be here. My dad would have never have picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not? But he broke it down”.

In 2004, Sifford became the first African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He chose 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), the 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.

In 2011, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation changed the name of Revolution Park Golf Course to Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park.

President Barack Obama awarded him the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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JOINED TOUR

  • PGA TOUR: 1961

PGA TOUR Victories (2)

  • 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational
  • 1969 Los Angeles Open

PGA TOUR Champions Victories (1)

  • 1980 Suntree Senior PGA Tour Classic

International Victories (1)

  • 1963 Puerto Rico Open

Additional Victories (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
  • 1956 Rhode Island Open
  • 1957 Long Beach Open
  • 1960 UGA National Negro Open
  • 1960 Almaden Open
  • 1963 Puerto Rico Open
  • 1971 Sea Pines
  • 1975 Northern Ohio PGA Championship

PLAYOFF RECORD

PGA TOUR (1-0)

  • 1969 Defeated Harold Henning, Los Angeles Open

Personal

  • Won six Negro National Open titles.
  • Honored as one of the top 100 people in the first Century of Golf.
  • Also a member of both the North Carolina Sportswriters Hall of Fame and the Northern Ohio Sports Hall of Fame.
  • Published his autobiography, Just Let Me Play, during the summer of 1992.
  • Started in golf as a caddie in Charlotte, N.C., and began playing professionally at age 17 on the United Golf Association Tour.
  • Was singer Billy Eckstine’s personal pro and was nicknamed “Little Horse” by Eckstine.

Special Interests

  • Music, boxing

Career Highlights

2011 Season

  • Legends of Golf Demaret Division: Made his final Champions Tour appearance, playing in the Demaret Division of the Legends of Golf, finishing T20 with partner Lee Elder.
  • Dr. Charles L. Sifford GC at Revolution Park: Was honored when Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation renamed Revolution Park GC as the Dr. Charles L. Sifford GC at Revolution Park in his native Charlotte, N.C.

2010 Season

  • Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: After not playing in the previous three Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf events, played in the Demaret Division with partner Doug Sanders. After rounds of 74-82, finished T14.

2009 Season

  • Northern Trust Open: The Northern Trust Open (formerly the Los Angeles Open) began the exemption “for a player who represents the advancement of diversity in golf” called the Charlie Sifford Exemption.

2007 Season

Received the Old Tom Morris Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

2006 Season

  • Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: In his lone start of the campaign, finished second in the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf for a second consecutive year. Teamed with Joe Jimenez to shoot rounds of 70-71 at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa. Ended two strokes behind the winning team of Orville Moody and Jimmy Powell.
  • Doctor of Laws: Received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

2005 Season

  • Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: Shot rounds of 68-67 with teammate Joe Jimenez to finish a distant second to the team of Orville Moody-Jimmy Powell in the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

2004 Season

Received his highest honor when the World Golf Hall of Fame inducted him, along with Tom Kite, Marlene Stewart Streit and Isao Aoki.

  • Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: Teamed with long-time partner Joe Jimenez to T5 in the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with the teams of Mike Fetchick-Fred Hawkins and Al Balding-Bob Toski.

2003 Season

  • Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf: Was T5 with partner Joe Jimenez in the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga.

2002 Season

  • Legends of Golf-Demaret Division: Joined forces with Joe Jimenez and came up just short at The King & The Bear in St. Augustine, Fla. Shot best-ball rounds of 66-68 to fall a stroke shy of Miller Barber and Jim Ferree’s winning 11-under score.

1987 Season

Earned the distinction of being the oldest player to earn an exemption on the Champions Tour from the prior-year’s money list when he finished in the top 28 in 1986, at age 64.

1984 Season

Made 19 Champions Tour starts, finishing inside the top-10 in nine of them for a 14th-place final money-list position. Two more T7s came during back-to-back July starts.

  • Digital Middlesex Classic: Best finish during the latter-part of his season was a T4 at the Digital Middlesex Classic on the strength of a final-round 69.
  • United Virginia Seniors: Also had a T7 at the at the United Virginia Seniors.
  • Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Pro-Am: T7 at the Merrill Lynch Golf Digest Pro-Am at Newport CC in Rhode Island.
  • Greater Syracuse Senior Classic: T7 at the Greater Syracuse Senior Classic.
  • Senior Tournament Players Championship: Added another T7 at the Senior Tournament Players Championship at Canterbury GC outside Cleveland. Was five shots off the lead with a round to play, but his Sunday, 3-over 75 left him in a T7 with Dan Sikes and Rod Funseth.
  • SENIOR PGA TOUR Roundup: In his next start, at the SENIOR PGA TOUR Roundup, finished T7.
  • Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic: At the Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic, opened and closed with 73s and had a 69 in the second round to T4.
  • Los Angeles Open: Played in his final PGA TOUR event, making the cut at the Los Angeles Open and finishing T76. It was his only start of the season.
  • Senior Seiko/Tucson Match Play Champ: Lost in the quarterfinals of the Senior Seiko Tucson Match Play in January.

1983 Season

Finished 12th on the Champions Tour money list. Had a solid finish to his season, with three top-10s in his final six starts.

  • Boca Grove Classic: T6 at the Boca Grove Classic.
  • Hilton Head Seniors International: Finished T7 at the Hilton Head Seniors International.
  • Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic: Was T4 at the Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic in September.
  • U.S. Senior Open: Had a U.S. Senior Open top-10 for a second consecutive year, this time finishing ninth at Hazeltine National GC in Minnesota.
  • Marlboro Classic: Next top-10 came in July, at the Marlboro Classic. A pair of under-par weekend rounds left him T6 at Marlboro CC.
  • Hall Of Fame: Came up short in his search for victory, finishing solo second at the Hall of Fame at Pinehurst’s No. 2 Course. Opened with an even-par 72 then jumped into contention with a 6-under 66 in the second round. Was tied for second with Dan Sikes, five shots behind leader Rod Funseth. Shot a solid 69 on the final day but was no match for Funseth, who fashioned a 65 and won the tournament by nine strokes.
  • Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open: Made one PGA TOUR start, at the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open, finishing T61.

1982 Season

Played in 11 official Champions Tour events and recorded an 18th-place money-list finish. Rebounded from a disappointing Champions Tour season in 1981 with three top-10s in his 11 starts.

  • Suntree Seniors Classic: Best effort came at the Suntree Seniors Classic, where he turned rounds of 75-68-71-69 into a T7.
  • U.S. Senior Open: Was eighth at the U.S. Senior Open, his final-round 69 one of only three sub-70 rounds in the final round.
  • Peter Jackson Champions: Added a T9 in Canada in June, at the Peter Jackson Champions.
  • Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open: Made one start, at the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open, withdrawing after the first round.

1981 Season

Missed the cut in both of his TOUR starts. Made six Champions Tour starts, with one top-10.

  • Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open: Missed the cut at the Sammy Davis, Jr.-Greater Hartford Open.
  • Michelob Senior Classic: T9 at the Michelob Senior Classic in early April.
  • Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open: Missed the cut at the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open.

1980 Season

Missed the cut in all three of his PGA TOUR starts, including his final major championship appearance, at the PGA Championship.

  • Suntree Senior PGA Tour Classic: Won the other cosponsored event that season, the Suntree Classic at Melbourne, Fla., by four strokes over Don January.
  • Atlantic City Senior International: Shot a closing, 8-under-par 63 at the Atlantic City International to T6 in the first Champions Tour event ever played.

1979 Season

  • Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open: Lone made cut was at the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open. Shot rounds of 73-73-72-675 to T58.

1978 Season

Missed the cut in both of his TOUR starts, including a 78-78 showing in his final U.S. Open appearance.

1972 Season

  • U.S. Open Championship: In his eighth U.S. Open appearance, turned in his top major championship performance, shooting an even-par 72 at Pebble Beach GL in the third round and going on to a T21 outing in California.

1969 Season

  • Los Angeles Open: Won his last PGA TOUR title, doing it in playoff fashion at the Los Angeles Open. After opening with an 8-under 63 at Rancho Park, shot consecutive rounds of 71 over his final 54 holes to tie Harold Henning at 8-under 276. Defeated Henning by making birdie on the first playoff hole.

1968 Season

Finished 50th on the money list and again came close to winning.

  • Cajun Classic Open Invitational: In the final event of his season, in Louisiana at the Cajun Classic Open, shot rounds of 70-67-70-67 to T2 with Bobby Mitchell, four shots behind winner Ron Cerrudo.

1967 Season

  • Greater Hartford Open Invitational: Broke through and won his first PGA TOUR title when he captured the Greater Hartford Open in mid-August and finished with the highest money-list position of his career–25th. Entered the final round at Wethersfield CC tied for 12th, five shots behind leader Terry Dill. Navigated the course in the final round in 7-under–the low score of the day–to cruise to a one-shot win over Steve Opperman and a two-shot triumph over a quartet of players, including Raymond Floyd and Gary Player.
  • Canadian Open: Finished T10 at the Canadian Open.
  • Dallas Open Invitational: Finished sixth at the Dallas Open.
  • Greater Greensboro Open: Finished fifth at the Greater Greensboro Open.

1966 Season

Dropped out of the top-50 on the money list for the first time since 1960. Finished 59th on the earnings’ chart. Only top-10s were a pair of T8 efforts both in California.

  • Lucky International Open: Finished T8 in San Francisco at the Lucky International Open.
  • San Diego Open Invitational: Made his first PGA TOUR hole-in-one, at the San Diego Open, on his way to a T29 finish.
  • Los Angeles Open: T8 at the Los Angeles Open in his first start of the year.

1965 Season

Again finished inside the top 50 on the final money list, at No. 48. Opened his season with back-to-back T9s.

  • Greater Seattle Open Invitational: Final top-10 was a T9 effort at the Greater Seattle Open in September after a final-round 69 followed three consecutive 72s to start the tournament.
  • Carling World Open: T9 at the Carling World Open in August.
  • PGA Championship: After four U.S. Open appearances, played in another major championship, this time the PGA Championship, finishing T33.
  • Canadian Open: Added a T8 at the Canadian Open in July.
  • San Diego Open Invitational: T9 at the San Diego Open.
  • Los Angeles Open: T9 at the Los Angeles Open.

1964 Season

Finished 46th on the money list.

  • Almaden Open Invitational: T6 at the Almaden Open in his final start of the year in November.
  • St. Paul Open Invitational: Was disappointed again, earning the third runner-up finish of his career when he T2 at the St. Paul Open in Minnesota in August. Played well on the weekend at Keller GC, shooting rounds of 68-67. But Charles Courtney walked away with the title.
  • Buick Open Invitational: Was fifth at the Buick Open.
  • Thunderbird Classic: T7 at the Thunderbird Classic.
  • Waco Turner Open Invitational: Finished T6 at the Waco Turner Open.
  • Palm Springs Golf Classic: Was also T7 at the unofficial Palm Springs Golf Classic.

1963 Season

  • Jamaica Open Invitational: Kept the hot streak going a week later at the unofficial Jamaica Open. Opened with a 73 in Kingston then rattled off rounds of 66-69-68 to finish second, two shots behind John Barnum.
  • Puerto Rico Open Invitational: Won the Puerto Rico Open, an unofficial PGA TOUR event at the time. Shot a final-round 68 to break free from the one-stroke 54-hole lead he held over Manuel De La Torre and Knudson.
  • Lucky International Open: Was again T3, this time at the Lucky International Open in San Francisco. Ended the event at Harding Park tied with George Knudson and Paul Harney, four shots behind winner Jack Burke, Jr.
  • San Diego Open Invitational: Began his season with four rounds in the 60s at the San Diego Open. Rounds of 67-69-67-69 left him T3 with Billy Casper, two shots behind winner Gary Player.

1962 Season

Made 23 cuts and finished 49th on the money list.

  • Sahara Invitational: T5 at the Sahara Invitational.
  • Dallas Open Invitational: Had a nice finish in September by shooting a final-round, 4-under 67 at the Dallas Open. Finished five shots behind winner Billy Maxwell at Oak Cliff CC.
  • Canadian Open: Again flirted with victory, settling for a runner-up finish at the Canadian Open in late-July. Held a share of the 54-hole lead with Ted Kroll at Le Club Laval-sur-lac in Quebec. Shot an even-par 72 on the final day to Kroll’s 70.
  • Eastern Open Invitational: T10 at the Eastern Open.
  • Tucson Open Invitational: Four rounds in the 60s, including weekend rounds of 65-66 at the Tucson Open weren’t enough as he finished T3 with Gene Littler, Paul Harney and Bud Sullivan, four shots behind winner Phil Rodgers.

1961 Season

Only two top-10s of the season were T4s.

  • Greater Greensboro Open: Was again a T4, at the Greater Greensboro Open. Was three strokes behind 54-hole leader Mike Souchak with 18 holes to play but stumbled to a 4-over 75 at Sedgefield CC.
  • Home of the Sun Open: T4 at the Home of the Sun Open, where he was in solo second after the third round, a stroke behind leader Bud Sullivan. Shot a 71 on the final day to drop two positions, into a tie with Art Wall.

1960 Season

Had two top-10s.

  • Orange County Open Invitational: Was poised to break through and win on the PGA TOUR for the first time. At the Orange County Open in California, was tied with Billy Casper, Al Geiberger and George Bayer through 54 holes. Shot a final-round 70 to Casper’s 69 to lose by a stroke.
  • Portland Open Invitational: T7 at the Portland Open.
  • Eastern Open Invitational: T6 at the Eastern Open.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Won his sixth and final UGA National Negro Open.

1959 Season

  • Portland Centennial Open Invitational: Played a full PGA TOUR slate and made 16 cuts while only recording one top-10. That came at the Portland Centennial Open, where he was eighth after shooting 66-69-69 over his final 54 holes.
  • U.S. Open Championship: Made his major championship debut, finishing T32 at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot GC.
  • California State Open: Contended at the California State Open at Santa Maria CC, finishing second to Jerry Barber by four strokes.

1958 Season

  • Rubber City Open Invitational: Had one PGA TOUR top-10, a T10 at the Rubber City Open in Akron, Ohio, thanks, in part, to a second-round, 7-under 64 at Firestone CC.

1957 Season

  • Long Beach Open Invitational: Earned a third title, again an unofficial event when he shot a final-round 64 in the 54-hole Long Beach Open Invitational in Southern California. Finished at 13-under and tied with Eric Monti then defeated Monti in a playoff.
  • Eastern Open Invitational: Best performance among his eight made PGA TOUR cuts was a T8 at the Eastern Open Invitational in Baltimore.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Won that UGA National Negro Open for a fifth time.
  • Rhode Island Open: Won the Rhode Island Open.

1956 Season

  • Insurance City Open: In Hartford, Conn., at the Insurance City Open, shot four under-par rounds at Wethersfield CC, including weekend rounds of 68-68 but fell a stroke shy of the Arnold Palmer-Ted Kroll playoff that Palmer won. Finished T3 with Gene Littler, Fred Hawkins, Ernie Vossler, Don Fairfield and Bud Holscher.
  • Philadelphia Daily News Open: Made back-to-back top-10s in late-June, early July. At the Philadelphia Daily News Open, finished T8 after rounds of 69-68-71-68.
  • North and South Negro Championship: Took a four-stroke victory in the North and South Negro Championship at Miami Springs CC in March. In the 54-hole event, he beat Ted Rhodes by four strokes.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Captured the UGA National Negro Open title for a fifth consecutive time.

1955 Season

  • Carling Golf Classic: Added a T20 at the Carling Golf Classic in September for his only other top-20 finish on the campaign.
  • Canadian Open: Recorded his first top-20 in a PGA TOUR event when he opened with a 63 at the Canadian Open, giving him his first lead. Held a one-shot advantage over Arnold Palmer through 18 holes at Weston G&CC in Toronto. Finished with a 74-72-70 showing to T19.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Again won the UGA National Negro Open, his fourth consecutive win in the event.

1954 Season

Made the cut in five PGA TOUR starts.

  • San Diego Open: His best finish was a T25 at the San Diego Open, the first time he broke 70 in a TOUR event. He fired a second-round 67 to go with an opening 75 and closing 73-76 over his final 36 holes.
  • Los Angeles Open: Also was T27 at the Los Angeles Open.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Won his third consecutive UGA National Negro Open title.

1953 Season

Played in two PGA TOUR events, both on consecutive weeks in Chicago.

  • World Championship of Golf: Remained at the Tam O’Shanter Club and was T54 at the World Championship of Golf.
  • All American Open: Finished T62 at the All American Open.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Successfully defended his UGA National Negro Open title.

1952 Season

  • Phoenix Open: Attempted to qualify for the Phoenix Open but was unsuccessful.
  • UGA National Negro Open: Won the first of six UGA National Negro Opens.

1949 Season

  • All American Open: Made his first TOUR cut, in Chicago at the All American Open at the Tam O’Shanter Club. Finished T71. Opened with a 74 then shot three consecutive rounds of 76.
  • Philadelphia Inquirer Open: Made his PGA TOUR debut at the Philadelphia Inquirer Open. Shot rounds of 77-75-82 before withdrawing.