Lee Elder puts pedal to metal to see Tiger
Woods
By John Strege
The Orange County Register
(KRT)
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Lee Elder was in a hurry Sunday morning, a speeding
ticket more proof than was necessary. It already had taken too
long to get to this point, a black man winning the Masters.
"No one will turn their head when a black man walks to
the first tee after this," Elder said.
Elder, 62, was the first black to play in the Masters, in 1975,
and he felt it important that he be there when the first black
won the Masters, Tiger Woods, in 1997.
"One of the reasons I'm here today is to see history made,"
Elder said. "I have constantly said it would be one happy
and glorious day for all blacks. They are so proud of the him,
the way he has accomplished things and carries himself."
"For me it's a lot of satisfaction. It certainly means
a lot for a lot of minorities because it's certainly going to
be a situation where he's a role model. A lot of kids who are
not now involved in golf will turn to golf because they can see
what they can possibly do."
For many years, the Augusta National Golf Club was symbolic
of the segregation that beleaguered the sport. The club did not
admit its first black member until 1991. Charlie Sifford, the
black who integrated the PGA Tour, was never invited to play in
the Masters. Elder qualified by winning the Monsanto Open in 1974.
"From a caddie or a black person standpoint it was the
day we all wanted to hallelujiah for," said Carl Jackson,
a long-time Augusta National caddie who carries Ben Crenshaw's
bag here. "I'm glad he's here. That's perfect."
When Elder first came here, he was concerned for his safety.
He had received five or six letters containing threats on his
life, he said. He stayed in a private home about 10 minutes from
the course, and when his round had concluded, he generally went
straight home.
"That's why I made myself a little bit scarce the first
time," he said. "I'd leave from here and go right to
the house, or I'd be with a group of people. I was always assured
that nothing would happen inside here, but I was worried about
being outside. It was pretty frightening.
Elder played in the Masters six times and the best he finished
was in a tie for 17th. He missed the cut his first time here,
shooting 74 and 78.
"I don't think the world would have been ready to accept
a black champion with open arms," he said. "In 1975
you needed armed guards to get to the first tee. Today, times
have changed. I know he'll be accepted."
It was not the first time Elder returned to Augusta since he
was no longer playing here. He came in 1995, when Woods made his
Masters debut as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. The decision
to return to see Woods win the Masters was an easy one for him.
"I told my wife I'm going if he's anywhere near the lead
or leading," Elder said.
He rose at 7 a.m. and flew from his home in Pompano Beach,
Fla., to Atlanta, then made the two-hour drive to Augusta. He
was stopped for going 85 mph in a 70 zone.
"I told him, 'Look, I have to get to the Masters to watch
Tiger,' " he said. "He didn't know anything about golf.
I couldn't believe it."
Elder nonetheless arrived with time to spare and was standing
by the first tee when Woods hit his drive down the middle.
"I'm pretty sure that by the time he putts out at 18 I'll
shed a tear or two, because it's so heart-warming," Elder
said.
(c) 1997, The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.).
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