November 11, 2020 | By Pete McDaniel, Freelance Writer
The portly fellow with a huge grin on his round face interrupted his lunch on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National Golf Club to greet me with a firm handshake.
“You must be the Pete McDaniel,’’ he said, as if to distinguish me from all the other Pete McDaniels roaming the grounds that Masters week in 1998. “Looking pretty good there young man.’’
The greeting was in jest, as we had met at the Masters the year before through a mutual friend. The man had traveled to Augusta for Tiger Woods’ historic dismantling of the 1997 Masters field en route to a 12-stroke victory, one that signaled a passing of the torch from golf’s G.O.A.T (Jack Nicklaus) to his true heir apparent.
“And you are definitely Mr. Lee Elder,’’ I laughed. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.’’
“My pleasure,’’ he chuckled, taking his seat and resuming his meal.
“Would you like something to eat?’’ his wife, Sharon, asked.
I declined, explaining that I had to walk with Tiger during his practice round, and that I could spare only a few minutes to discuss a book project Lee wanted to undertake.
“So, you’re writing my book,’’ Lee said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.’’
Somewhat taken aback, I reminded Lee that I had not agreed to write his biography. We had only briefly tossed the idea around in a telephone conversation. I was hesitant to commit because I was still helping Tiger’s dad, Earl, promote his best-seller Training A Tiger, which I co-authored and figured I wouldn’t have a whole lot of free time between my beats at Golf Digest, where I was a senior writer, and my responsibilities as a single father.
I hate that we never came to an agreement on the book, for his is a fascinating tale of how far determination, grit, a caddie’s feel for the game and a heart bigger than his home state of Texas, can spirit one up arguably the steepest mountain in all of sports.
ON THE PEAK OF A MOUNTAIN
Lee finds himself at the peak of that mountain as recorded in the most recent chapter of that unfinished book. Next April, he will stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the first tee at Augusta National with two other legends of golf—Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player—as an honorary starter for the 2021 Masters. In addition, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced the club will sponsor scholarships in Elder’s name at Paine College. The club also committed to funding a women’s golf team at Paine as part of the honor bestowed upon the first African American invited to compete in the Masters.
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“The opportunity to earn an invitation to the Masters (in 1975) and stand at that first tee was my dream,’’ Elder said. “To have it come true in 1975 remains one of the greatest highlights of my career and life.
“So, to be invited back to the first tee one more time to join Jack and Gary for next year’s Masters means the world to me. It also gives me great pride to know that my first Masters appearance continues to make a positive impact on others.’’
There is little doubt that Elder’s first Masters ended an era of open discrimination against minorities by Augusta National and began an era of inclusion as far as the Masters field is concerned. However, it failed to heal the wounds of exclusion suffered by Elder’s predecessors, most notably Charlie Sifford.
Sifford won one “unofficial’’ PGA Tour event (the 1957 Long Beach Open) and two “official’’ events (1967 Greater Hartford Open and 1969 Los Angeles Open) but never received an invitation from the Masters Tournament Committee. He claimed that every time he was in position to receive an invitation, the committee would move the goal posts.
THE SIFFORD FACTOR
Sifford openly expressed his displeasure with Augusta National and swore he would never set foot on its grounds. The only Black World Golf Hall of Fame inductee died in 2015 having kept his promise.
It is my experience that change is rarely initiated by those guilty of resistance to it. The back story suggests that is true of the Lee Elder honor. According to my sources, the idea began with a former employee of the PGA of America, Wendell Haskins. It made its way to the Masters Tournament Committee via various channels.
Regardless of the route, the honor is both timely and well-deserved in a country soul searching a long history of division and inequality. Recently heightened tensions have exposed the cavernous divisions along racial and social lines. The 86-year-old Elder personifies not only the past but hope for a better future. His is an American story of hurdles, hustling and humility.
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Lee’s journey to fame if not fortune in the game has been well-documented. Born July 14, 1934 in Dallas, Robert Lee Elder learned the game as a caddie, like most of his contemporaries. He gained a good amount of notoriety in partnership with famed hustler Titanic Thompson. Lee forged a successful career on various black golf tours before qualifying for the PGA Tour in 1967 along with several other notables including Deane Beman, Bob Murphy and Tony Jacklin.
Elder won the 1974 Pensacola Open to qualify for the 1975 Masters. He won three more times on Tour, competed in the Ryder Cup and successfully on the Champions Tour. His ambassadorship in the game is noteworthy, as well.
Father Time, the undefeated one, has taken a toll on Elder’s health. Yet, it is not in his nature to complain. Humility is his armor against the slings and arrows of old age and an unrelenting assault by those who continue to grudgingly grip the reins of oppression.
Lee has seen it all. Now he is basking in the glory of a legacy of achievement.
From my view looking up to the top of the mountain, he looks pretty good.
ABOUT PETE McDANIEL
Pete McDaniel is a veteran golf writer and best-selling author. His blogs and books are available at petemcdaniel.com
Comments on this topic may be emailed directly to Pete at gdmcd@aol.com or visit his Facebook page.
