Charlie Sifford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlie Sifford |
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Sifford in 1961
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Charles Luther Sifford |
| Born | June 2, 1922 Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Died | February 3, 2015 (aged 92) Cleveland, Ohio |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Brecksville, Ohio |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1948 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 22 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 2 |
| Champions Tour | 1 |
| Other | 19 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | T21: 1972 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | T33: 1965 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2004 |
| Old Tom Morris Award | 2007 |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom |
2014 |
Charles Luther Sifford (born June 2, 1922 – died February 3, 2015) was an American professional golfer. He made history as the first African American to play on the PGA Tour.
Many people call Sifford the "Jackie Robinson" of golf. This is because he broke down barriers, just like Jackie Robinson did in baseball. Famous golfer Tiger Woods has said that Sifford paved the way for his own career. Sifford was honored for his amazing contributions to golf when he joined the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
Contents
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Charlie Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1922. He started working as a caddy when he was just thirteen years old. A caddy carries golf clubs for players. This job helped him learn about golf. When he was 17, he moved to Philadelphia. There, he played golf against other black golfers in the area.
A Pioneering Golf Career
Sifford became a professional golfer in 1948. At that time, black golfers were not allowed to join the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA). So, Sifford played in special golf tournaments organized for black golfers. He won the United Golf Association's National Negro Open six times! He even won it five years in a row from 1952 to 1956.
Later, Sifford worked for the singer Billy Eckstine. Billy Eckstine was a valet and golf instructor. He also helped Sifford financially when Sifford couldn't find sponsors.
In 1952, Sifford tried to play in a PGA Tour event for the first time. It was the Phoenix Open. Former boxing champion Joe Louis helped him get an invitation. But Sifford faced many threats and racial insults at this tournament and others.
In 1957, Sifford won the Long Beach Open. This was a big win because some well-known white players also competed. In 1959, he played in the U.S. Open for the first time. Then, in 1961, he officially became a member of the PGA Tour. This was a huge moment! He was the first African American to join.
Sifford went on to win two official PGA Tour events. He won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. For his first nine years on the PGA Tour, he was always among the top 60 players in winnings. He also won the 1963 Puerto Rico Open and the 1971 Sea Pines tournament. His best finish in a major tournament was tying for 21st place at the 1972 U.S. Open. In 1975, he won the PGA Seniors' Championship, which was a top tournament for golfers over fifty.
Personal Life
Charlie Sifford was married to Rose, who passed away in 1998. They had two sons, Charles Jr. and Craig.
Sifford lived in Brecksville, Ohio. He had a stroke and was hospitalized one month before he died. He passed away on February 3, 2015, at the age of 92, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Interesting Facts About Charlie Sifford
- Sifford won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969.
- He won the United Golf Association's National Negro Open six times. He also won the PGA Seniors' Championship in 1975.
- He received the Old Tom Morris Award in 2007. He was also given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. He even got an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews.
- In 1961, Sifford became the first African American to join the PGA Tour.
- Tiger Woods named his son Charlie after him. Woods also called Sifford "the Grandpa I never had."
Quotes from Charlie Sifford
- "I was made for a tough life because I'm a tough man. And in the end, I won: I got a lot of black people playing golf."
- "Every time I go into a tournament, I'm strictly on my own. I know I'm playing for my bread and butter."
- "Golf is such a wonderful game. I love it to death."
Honors and Awards
Charlie Sifford received many honors for his groundbreaking career:
- In 2004, Sifford became the first African American to be welcomed into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
- On June 22, 2006, he received an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews. This was a Doctor of Laws degree.
- Sifford received the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award. This is the highest honor from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
- In 2009, a special award was created in his honor. The Northern Trust Open created the Charlie Sifford Exemption. This allows a player who helps advance diversity in golf to compete.
- In 2011, Revolution Park Golf Course was renamed. It became the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park.
- President Barack Obama gave him the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
Images for kids
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Sifford in 1961
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Sifford para niños
