November 10, 1957 – Charlie Stifford, first African-American to win a major professional golf tournament
Not only did the former pro golfer break racial barriers by becoming the first African-American to play in the PGA Tour, but he was also the first Black player to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Sifford’s interest in golf began in the 1930’s when he worked as a caddie in Charlotte, North Carolina, during his teens. Black players were not allowed to join North Carolina’s clubs, so to be allowed on the green. Sifford later moved to Philadelphia.
As a golf coach, Sifford trained singer Billy Eckstine but also focused on his skills. He bagged the Negro National Open title six times in the 1950’s. With his eye on the whites-only PGA, Sifford spoke with other prominent Black athletes for encouragement including boxers, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and, of course, baseball icon Jackie Robinson.
In 1957, he won the Long Beach Open, which is co-sponsored by the PGA, and four years later gained membership to the PGA Tour, the first Black athlete to do so. In 1967, Sifford broke the barrier again by winning the fully PGA-sponsored Greater Hartford Open and then the 1969 Los Angeles open.
Sifford would go on to win 422 PGA tournaments, nearly $350,000 in prize money, and the admiration of white and future Black golf players in the game. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.