Charlie Sifford

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox golfer 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.<ref name=nyt2015>Template:Cite news</ref> He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen.<ref name=foxsports/> He moved to Philadelphia when he was 17 years old, where he played against local black golfers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He often played at Philadelphia's Cobbs Creek Golf Course, a public facility that did not restrict players based on race, gender, or ethnicity.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Sifford began golfing professionally in 1948.<ref name=thepostgame>Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including consecutive wins from 1952 through 1956.<ref name=thepostgame/> 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.Template:Sfn

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.<ref name=yahoo>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sifford competed in the U. S. Open in 1959 for the first time and tied for 32nd place.<ref name=foxsports/> He became a member of the Tour in 1961, thus becoming the first African-American to join the PGA Tour.<ref name=nyt>Template:Cite news</ref> He went on to win two official money events, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and finished in the top 60 in overall winnings in his first nine years as a member of the PGA Tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open and the 1971 Sea Pines. He tied for 21st place at the 1972 U.S. Open, his best finish in a major tournament.<ref name=foxsports>Template:Cite news</ref> He competed in the PGA Seniors' Championship, then the leading tournament for golfers over fifty, winning the event in 1975.<ref name=yahoo/>

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 before he died in Cleveland, Ohio.<ref name=death/> He died on February 3, 2015, at the age of 92.<ref name=death>Template:Cite news</ref>

Honors

Lee Trevino said of Sifford, "You have to put him in the Jackie Robinson category."<ref name=nyt/> 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 picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not? But he broke it down."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2004, Sifford became the first African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also received the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the GCSAA's highest honor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

President Barack Obama awarded him the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.<ref name=freedom/><ref name=nyt/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional wins (22)

PGA Tour wins (2)

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	Template:Flagicon Steve Oppermann
2	Jan 12, 1969	Los Angeles Open	−8 (63-71-71-71=276)	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Harold Henning

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1969	Los Angeles Open	Template:Flagicon 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 before becoming a PGA Tour event)
• 1963 Puerto Rico Open
• 1971 Sea Pines
• 1975 Northern Ohio PGA Championship

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Nov 16, 1980	Suntree Classic	−9 (70-71-71-67=279)	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Don January

Other senior wins (7)

• 1975 PGA Seniors' Championship – (5 years before becoming a Champions Tour event; the event is now a Champions Tour major)
• 1988 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Legendary Division (with Roberto De Vicenzo)
• 1989 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Legendary Division (with Roberto De Vicenzo)
• 1991 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Legendary Division (with Roberto De Vicenzo)
• 1998 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Joe Jimenez)
• 1999 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Joe Jimenez)
• 2000 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Joe Jimenez)

Results in major championships

Tournament	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
U.S. Open	T32	T46		T43		27	CUT			T32
PGA Championship							T33			T59	CUT

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
U.S. Open		T49	T21	CUT	60	CUT			CUT
PGA Championship						T48		CUT			CUT

Template:Legend CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Note: Sifford never played in the Masters Tournament or The Open Championship.<ref name=foxsports/>

References

Bibliography

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Further reading

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External links

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