Menu

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


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:

Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Alphonso Smith Passes Away
Wake Forest Athletics mourns the loss of former football standout Alphonso Smith, who passed away on Sept. 2, 2026. A Wake Forest Sports Hall of...

Candid Coaches: How many games should there be in college basketball's regular season?
This season will see an increase to a maximum of 32 games. The increase to 32 has opened a window for some teams to up...

College football Week 1 takeaways: Michigan gets a gift, LSU looks title-ready and UMass wins
We've had a couple of days to let Rutgers' loss to UMass marinate and, no, it hasn't gotten easier to comprehend. It's probably more baffling...

College football media flabbergasted by Michigan’s controversial Hail Mary win over Western Michigan
Immediately after the play, the stadium announcer said it was under review. And a few moments later, the head referee stepped to the middle of...

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