By AAGD STAFF
(January 30, 2019) Tiger Woods made an exciting announcement on Wednesday, naming professional golfer Tim O’Neal a recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption. The exemption will place O’Neal into this year’s Genesis Open. O’Neal will join tournament host Woods and the rest of an elite field of PGA Tour players in next month’s tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Tim compete in the Genesis Open,” Woods said in a statement. “Like Charlie (Sifford) did as a player, Tim has shown great determination in his professional career. I know Charlie would be proud to have Tim playing in the Genesis Open as the Charlie Sifford exemption.”
Awarded since 2009, the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption has represented the advancement of diversity in the game of golf.
At the Genesis Open, 46-year-old O’Neal will take part in his seventh career PGA Tour start. And, the tournament makes for his first since missing the cut at the 2015 U.S. Open. O’Neal gained lots of experience and sharpened his skills while playing on the Web.com Tour. The Savannah (Ga.) native has also showcased his development with three career PGA Tour Latinoamerica victories and was named Player of the Year on the Advocates Pro Golf Association (2018). He also won the 2018 Georgia Open.
Tim O’Neal
The Genesis Open has given an exemption to a golfer representing a minority background since 2009. The coveted distinction was named in honor of the late Charlie Sifford in 2017.
Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. While pursuing a professional career in golf he endured much discrimination and suffered indignities, on and off of the golf course, during an era that did not openly welcome African Americans onto many of its golf courses, private clubs or Championship tournaments.
The 2019 Genesis Open will mark the 50th anniversary of Sifford’s victory at the 1969 Los Angeles Open, his second and final PGA Tour title.
O’Neal recalls a very special golf round:
“In 1999 I had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Mr. Sifford and he has had huge influence on me….Mr. Sifford has been an example on how to carry yourself on and off the golf course. I am extremely humbled and grateful to have received the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption for 2019 Genesis Open.”
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Many fans will remember what is perhaps O’Neal’s biggest Q School failure, where, in 2000, he only needed to make a bogey on his final hole to earn his PGA Tour card for the following season. But his tee shot landed in the water on PGA West’s 18th and he made a triple bogey. Afterward, O’Neal’s facial expression said it all. In 2004 he finished just one shot short of earning his PGA Tour card at Q School in 2004.
O’Neal will get his chance this time. The 2019 Genesis Open will be held Feb. 14-17.
Past recipients of the exemption include Joseph Bramlett (2011), Harold Varner III (2014), J.J. Spaun (2016), and Cameron Champ last year.
