GALLERY: Lee Elder Serves as Honorary Masters Starter
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…
Honorary 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.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesIn 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.
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.
