{"id":19877,"date":"2021-04-08T17:01:16","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T22:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19877"},"modified":"2021-04-08T17:01:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T22:01:16","slug":"masters-2021-ceremonial-tee-shot-lee-elder-dignified-as-honorary-starter-with-jack-nicklaus-arnold-palmer-the-first-black-man-to-play-at-augusta-national-received-a-standing-ovation-thursday-mornin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19877","title":{"rendered":"Masters 2021 ceremonial tee shot: Lee Elder dignified as Honorary Starter with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, The first Black man to play at Augusta National received a standing ovation Thursday morning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The first Black man to play at Augusta National received a standing ovation Thursday morning<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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\"lee-elder-2021-masters.png\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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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<\/a> 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/a>\u00a0than collecting major championship trophies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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