For decades, Black golfers like Charlie Sifford faced bigotry and discrimination as they fought to become members of the Professional Golfers’ Association (P.G.A.). The P.G.A. had explicitly codified racial discrimination in its bylaws, preventing Black golfers from competing as P.G.A. Tour members or finding jobs in P.G.A.-affiliated pro shops. This discrimination was supported by star players who did not speak up for inclusion, leaving Black golfers to deal with death threats and countless humiliations while simply trying to play golf against the best players of the era.
The battle to integrate professional golf stalled until Attorney General Mosk threatened to sue the P.G.A. to prevent it from holding its segregated tournaments in California, enraged by Sifford’s exclusion. Mosk’s actions forced the P.G.A. to eliminate the Caucasians-only clause, paving the way for Sifford to become a full-time member. However, this breakthrough did not open the gates to other Black players, as there were still only a handful of Black golfers on the pro tour decades later. The Masters, for example, waited 41 years before inviting a Black player to participate, and even after Sifford won two PGA Tour events, he was never invited to the tournament.
Today, there are relatively few Black golfers on the professional tour. The 2022 Masters featured a record high of three Black players, and there were no Black golfers in the previous year’s United States Open. Even Woods, who credits Sifford with making his career possible, can no longer play a full schedule due to injuries. With only two Black golfers currently playing professionally with regularity, efforts are needed to promote diversity in the sport. Initiatives like the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption at the Genesis Invitational, which reserves a spot for a golfer of color each year, are steps in the right direction.
There are calls for the P.G.A. to introduce similar exemptions at every tournament and to fund more programs to develop young Black golfers and increase interest in golf among Black athletes. Basketball star Stephen Curry, who funded the revival of the golf program at Howard University, will be honored at the World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony with the Charlie Sifford Award for advancing diversity in golf. This recognition highlights the importance of promoting diversity in the sport and encourages the P.G.A. to follow Curry’s lead in supporting and nurturing Black golfers.
In conclusion, the history of Black golfers like Charlie Sifford highlights the challenges and obstacles faced by Black players in the professional golf world. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport. Initiatives like the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption and honoring individuals like Stephen Curry for their efforts in advancing diversity are steps in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure equal opportunities for Black golfers. The P.G.A. should continue to support and promote diversity in golf by introducing initiatives at every tournament and funding programs to develop young Black golfers.
