On April 21, 1974, Lee Elder made history by becoming the first African American golfer to qualify for the prestigious Masters Tournament. Held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia—a course that had excluded Black players for decades—Elder’s qualification shattered a long-standing racial barrier in professional golf. His achievement was the culmination of years of perseverance on the PGA Tour, where he faced discrimination, boycotts, and threats. Elder’s courage paved the way for future generations of Black golfers, including Tiger Woods, and helped integrate one of the most exclusive events in sports.
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