Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world today. Millions of people worldwide watch, practice, and play golf. The game’s popularity is biggest in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In the USA, the sport has reached unprecedented levels of fame, with some of the country’s best sportsmen being golfers. In this article, we would like to pay respect to the numerous black athletes that have swung the club. So, without further ado, let us look at three of the best African-American golfers of all time.
Tiger Woods
Was there any doubt that Tiger Woods would make this list? Not only is he one of the best African-American golfers, he is one of the best golfers of all time, if not the best. For a long time, Novibet sports betting websites placed Tiger Woods as the odds-on favorite to win any golf tournament in which he was involved. Golf betting is surprisingly popular, mainly because a game takes place no matter the season. So, the fact that Tiger Woods’ success was so momentous is quite the achievement.
And speaking of achievements, let’s go over some of Woods’ most notable ones. He holds the joint-record for most PGA Tour wins, he currently ranks second in men’s golf (behind Jack Nicklaus), he holds a whole slew of golf records, and has been inducted in the Golf Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to American sports and culture. Without a doubt, he is deserving of a spot on the list of the greatest golfers of all time.
Jim Thorpe
Jimmy Lee Thorpe is without a doubt one of the greatest players in the world of golf. At 74, he is still going strong, playing golf in the Champions Tour. He began playing professionally in 1972, meaning that his career spans five decades. Mr. Thorpe’s accomplishments are numerous. In the 1980s, he won three PGA Tours.
However, his skills have only strengthened at the senior level. Since playing in the seniors he has won over ten tournaments, and has ranked among the top ten in the Champion’s tour career money list. In 2010, Thorpe was charged with tax evasion, for which he served a year in prison. Upon being released, he has been playing in the Champions Tour, still ranking among the best golfers.
Lee Elder
One of the most important figures in the history of golf, Lee Elder was the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament. In 1974, Elder played in the Monsanto Open, and won the tournament. This achievement earned him an invitation to the Masters. His victory at Monsanto was the first of four major PGA Tour wins.
In 1976 he won the Houston Open, and two years later he won the Greater Milwaukee Open and the American Express Westchester Classic. He has also won eight Senior PGA Tour competitions, and has a 3 – 0 PGA Tour playoff record. Certainly, he is one of the best and most important golfers in African-American history.
