In 1975, Lee Elder broke a nearly unheard of barrier, becoming the first Black man to play in The Masters Tournament at Augusta National. In a game that had largely shunned Black athletes to that point, Elder’s accomplishment was noteworthy.
I thought this from Lee Elder was incredible and displayed an unbelievable amount of humility. pic.twitter.com/3CyxH7F9xc
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) April 8, 2021
He shot 74-78 to miss the cut in his first Masters, before making five more appearances later. And then in 2020, Augusta National announced he would serve as the honorary starter for this year’s tournament. He was joined on the tee by long-time friends and golf legends Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. It made for an emotional start to what promises to be a magical 2021 Masters Tournament.
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareHonorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States waves to the crowd after the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia.
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: The names of Honorary Starters Lee Elder of the United States, Gary Player of South Africa and Jack Nicklaus of the United States are displayed prior to the opening ceremony for the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), greets honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus on the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), waves to the patrons as he is introduced and honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on from the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L) talks with honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: The names of Honorary Starters Lee Elder of the United States, Gary Player of South Africa and Jack Nicklaus of the United States are displayed prior to the opening ceremony for the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus waves as he is introduced and honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States waves to the patrons as he arrives to the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus laugh on the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa waves to the crowd as he is acknowledged by the patrons and Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on from the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa plays his opening tee shot on the first tee as honorary starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareHonorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States waves to the crowd after the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia.
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: The names of Honorary Starters Lee Elder of the United States, Gary Player of South Africa and Jack Nicklaus of the United States are displayed prior to the opening ceremony for the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), greets honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus on the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), waves to the patrons as he is introduced and honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on from the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L) talks with honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: The names of Honorary Starters Lee Elder of the United States, Gary Player of South Africa and Jack Nicklaus of the United States are displayed prior to the opening ceremony for the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States arrives to the opening ceremony during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus waves as he is introduced and honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States waves to the patrons as he arrives to the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States (L), honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus laugh on the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa waves to the crowd as he is acknowledged by the patrons and Honorary Starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on from the first tee during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Masters – Round One
ShareAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Honorary starter and Masters champion Gary Player of South Africa plays his opening tee shot on the first tee as honorary starter Lee Elder of the United States and honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus look on during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
