Trailblazer Lee Elder, first Black man to compete in Masters, dies at 87

Posted Dec 1, 2021
Lee Elder, a golf pioneer who in 1975 became the first Black man to compete at the Masters, has died at age 87. Augusta National was one of the last racial barriers left in sports, and when Elder broke it in 1975 at age 40, the hatred he faced for simply showing up and playing was intense. He received tons of hate mail, with some letters threatening his life. (Yahoo! Sports)

Related: Other News

Louisville basketball dismisses former G League guard London Johnson
London Johnson's unusual Louisville basketball career is over without him ever playing a game for the Cardinals. The former NBA G League guard whose signing...
Sun Aug 23, 2026

Bill Rasmussen Founded ESPN and Left a Year Later. It Was Long Enough to Change TV Forever
Bill Rasmussen set out to create a local sports channel in his home state of Connecticut. Instead, he changed the global television landscape. Rasmussen, the...
Sat Aug 22, 2026

NCAA granted stay request; some class of 2022 athletes lose fifth-season eligibility for now
In the latest back-and-forth between the NCAA and Colorado players seeking a fifth year of eligibility, the NCAA scored a significant victory Friday. The NCAA...
Sat Aug 22, 2026

Candid Coaches: Who will be the best college basketball player in 2026-27?
The combination of NIL, revenue-sharing and unlimited transfers has created a world where any college basketball player, other than something like a projected top-15 pick...
Fri Aug 21, 2026