Charles Sifford, the first African-American player on the PGA Tour, will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama, the White House has announced.
The 92-year-old Sifford was inspired to join the tour by a meeting with Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play professional baseball.
Sifford turned pro when he was 17 and played on the United Golf Association Tour.
In 1952, he tried to qualify for a PGA event on invitation by boxer Joe Louis, only to be threatened and attacked with racial slurs.
However, the PGA had a “Caucasians Only” rule that was written in its official by-laws from 1934-1961. Sifford had challenged the ruling in 1960.
When the rule was lifted, Sifford was nearly 40, but still won titles in 1967 and 1969.
He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004, where he was introduced by former tour mate Gary Player of South Africa, a beautifully symbolic moment for two men whose countries have regrettable stances on racial equality in the 20th century.
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