Tiger the Only African-American on Tour

Charlie Sifford was one of ten African-Americans on the PGA Tour in the 1970s. Today there is only one: Tiger Woods.

Tiger WoodsCharlie Sifford, the first African-American to play regularly on the PGA Tour, is now the only African-American in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Things are looking up for black and African-American players, right? Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods – the top two golfers in the world are black. Right?

Yes and no, according to Ron Sirak at ESPN. Singh and Woods are the only two black players on the PGA Tour, and Woods is the only African-American (Vijay is full Fijian, and even Woods is half Thai).

Sirak wonders why, when during Sifford’s days upwards of ten African-Americans played the tour and today only one does, but concludes quickly:

The dilemma is not one of race as much as it is one of class. Despite all efforts, and until recently those efforts have been dubious at best, golf has become more expensive, more time consuming and less welcoming of new players. It is a closed fraternity and the secret handshake has been denied to most.

Sirak then goes on to point out that The First Tee, founded in 1997, has already reached 395,000 children and created 178 facilities nationwide. Golf outreach programs are involving hundreds of thousands of children. Greens fees have risen, but municipal course rates have actually trailed the inflation rate. Tiger Woods alone has involved more youth in the sport than we saw any group of people doing 30 years ago, including caddie programs – which ESPN cites as the primary reason for the lack of African-Americans on tour today.

Me? Sport is sport, and different sports are played by different folks. How many African-Americans play NHL hockey? How does the NBA or NFL stack up to the national average? Golf and Hockey have been predominantly “white” sports,” basketball, football, and even baseball are dramatically “black.”

The PGA Tour has become far more international today than it was in Sifford’s day. Gary Player and Isao Aoki were pioneers – travelling to play golf professionally – but today the PGA Tour has countless foreign players: players from Europe, Asia, South Africa, Canada, and more. These international countries have traditionally supplied Caucasian (or Asian, but not black) players. That’s sure to slant the stats.

A high percentage of African-Americans in this country live in the inner cities. Regardless of race, it’s difficult to get to a golf course from the Bronx – far more difficult than it is to find a basketball hoop. Inner city high schools are far less likely to have golf teams. Outreach programs, Tiger’s efforts, and the First Tee are noble efforts, but the simple fact remains: golf requires a lot of space, and space isn’t something you’re likely to find in the inner cities of America.

Ron Sirak, author of the article on ESPN.com, knows all of this. But hey, puff pieces take up column inches too, and Sirak’s got bills to pay. Perhaps next time he’ll pay more than lip service to the issue at hand: this isn’t a golf issue, but a societal issue. How do we clean up the inner cities of America? How do we create affordable golf courses within reach of large populations of minorities? How do we encourage high school golf teams in areas where golf courses are simply not available?

And how do all of those international countries supplying top talent include their black populations in the sport? The weight can’t rest solely on American shoulders when upwards of 30-40% of the playing field in a PGA Tour event are international players.

Aaron Whit, a new blogger on the scene, sums it up with this: “Not everything has to be about race.”

Care to take your mulligan, Sirak?

7 thoughts on “Tiger the Only African-American on Tour”

  1. Mr Sirak has no clue as to why there are not more blacks on the tour! Go check and see how many colleges (black or white)that have potential PGA Calibre golfers? The reason is not just class as he stated, but also financial. Blacks cannot get the financing or backing that white players get. That’s it in a nut shell!

    My son (African-American) was accepted as a walk-on at LSU and was told to practice and do everything like the other “white” scholarship golfers which he did. He used to beat half of them when they played. When he asked when he would get a chance to play in a school tournament, he was told by the golf coach “I only play my scholarship players”. Well what was his reason for accepting a walk on?? Oh yeah! He did not think my son would beat any of his scholarship players when he accepted him as a walk on. My son had the potential to be a professional golfer had he been given the chance to grow through college competition (By the way, he did become an Asst PGA Professional later on). It’s things like this, not talent, lack of a nearby golf course, or living in the inner city is what keeps black golfers out of the professional ranks. I lived in Baltimore (which I believe classifies as an inner city)in the 50’s-60’s and there were plenty of black golfers and 3 golf courses that blacks played at. Some of those guys were better than good, but it’s funny how none of them ever made it to the PGA? Makes you wonder why???? It’s the same everytime,Money! Money and them that has and them that don’t have is what’s keeping blacks out of the PGA. Look at the number of financially stable people in this country and see how many of them back or sponsor a white golfer. Now look at how many sponsor a “Black” golfer?

  2. Well my son is 16 and has been playing golf for about 2 and 1/2 years. He made his high school varsity golf team last year and just recently shot his lowest score of 81. He practices 4-6 hours everyday and plays at least once a week. It’s true that golf for the black community is expensive and time consuming. I’m a black father, but I think it’s about priorities too. I have the time to take him to practice and the money to pay for his membership at a private golf course. We made the necessary sacrifices for him to get good instruction, good equipment(Ping), and make time for his practice. I’m sure Tiger’s parents made a lot of sacrifices for him to get where he is today. Golf is not just about skill and athleticism, but there is so much more to the game that has to be learned including the rules. My son has been told by several golf professionals that he has the ability to play professionally if he wants to, unfortunately, my son wants to be a cardio-surgeon and not a professional golfer. It’s his decision and not mine, so I am behind him regardless of what he chooses. If black parents would take the time and invest their money in their child learning the game of golf, there’d be a lot more blacks playing professionally. I gurantee it. A child has to be dedicated and willing to devote hours daily to practice and play everyday. In golf, winning will eliminate those who try to keep you out. My son’s goal is to shoot a record 54 before his 21st birthday. He believes he can do it and so do I. He’s only 5 years and 27 strokes away. I also believe there are young black kids who are probably quarterbacks on some pop warner football team with the potential to be professional golfers.

  3. Rick –

    Dude, your son wants to be a “cardio-surgeon” and you say that’s “unfortunate”??
    You mentioned priorities in your post – I think your son has them in the right place.

  4. Rick –

    Dude, your son wants to be a “cardio-surgeon” and you say that’s “unfortunate”??
    You mentioned priorities in your post – I think your son has them in the right place.

    You misunderstood the “unfortunate”. It was not for me, but for those at the golf courses who have seen him play and practice and want him to pursue golf professionally. Of course he has his priorities in the right place. I think anybody who read what I have posted should be able to see that.

    By the way, he shoots 70’s now and has decided to try qualifying for the Shell Houston Open in 2009. He makes his own decisions and I support him. That’s the way it goes. That is as simple as I can make it.

  5. Luckily Henry Baraben, James Black, Rafe Botts, Cliff Brown, Howard Brown, Pete Brown, Willie Brown, Lee Carter, Gordon Chavis, Jim Dent, Lee Elder, Al Green, George Johnson, Al Morton, Charlie Owens, Calvin Peete, Charlie Sifford, Curtis Sifford, Nathaniel Starks, Adrian Stills, Bobby Stroble, Ron Terry, Dick Thomas, Chuck Thorpe, Jim Thorpe, Junior Walker, Tom Woodard and Bill Wright who were all PGA Tour Card holding African-Americans while Tiger was in diapers or before he was even born didn’t read this and decide they were too poor or unfortunate to become professionals in the game they loved. Where there is a will there’s a way even if it is a difficult road to travel. I salute the pioneers that made it possible for Tiger to be Tiger!

  6. I can only recall two current PGA Tour Pros that identify as African American, Harold Varner III (currently ranked 191th, OWGR)
    Joseph Bramlett (currently 1802nd, OWGR).

    Eldrick Tont Woods (Tiger Woods) has repeatedly stated that he IS NOT African American, but instead focuses on his multi ethnic heritage.

    Hopefully, more young African Americans / Black People will see golf as an area of sports to excel at. The cost associated with golfing excellence has abated some in recent years, but not enough to attract the masses needed to draw young black children or more importantly their parents to Golf and Golf Courses.

    Exposure to the game at a young age is the key (but, there are exceptions like Calvin Peete).

    It takes time, be patient.
    Thank you

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