LEADING OFF ELDER LEAVES MASTERS LEGACY

PGA Tour pioneer Lee Elder, the first Black player to compete in the Masters, has died at age 87. Elder — a four-time PGA Tour winner — made his groundbreaking appearance at Augusta National in 1975. Elder went on to play in five more Masters and 34 major championships during his career, recording seven top-25 finishes. He tied for 11th at both the 1974 PGA Championship and the 1979 U.S. Open. Elder was celebrated at the Masters this past April when he was named an honorary starter, alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Elder’s story was inspirational, regardless of race, as he overcame personal tragedy long before qualifying for the PGA Tour through the qualifying school in 1968. Born in Dallas, Texas, in 1934, Elder lost both of his parents before he was 10 years old. His father was killed in Germany during the Second World War and his mother died three months later.