‘Very saddened’: American golf pioneer Lee Elder dead at 87

Tributes are pouring in for golf pioneer Lee Elder, the first African-American to compete in the Masters Tournament, after he passed away.

Apr 2000: Lee Elder (left), the last black player to win the US Masters poses with Tiger Woods of USA during the 2000 Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Mandatory credit: David Cannon/Allsport.

Lee Elder, the first African-American golfer to compete in the Masters Tournament, has passed away at 87.

Elder‘s friend, Renee Powell, announced the golfer’s death in a Facebook post on Monday, The Sun reports.

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“Overnight, I was very saddened to hear of the death of my good friend Lee Elder. Lee had called me last week about doing a project together this summer,” Powell wrote.

“We actually joined our perspective Tours together after both winning the United Golfers Association (UGA) National in the same year. For those who don‘t know, the UGA was an amateur body of African-American golfers that included divisions for women, men, junior boys and girls, and a professional division.

“They operated a series of tournaments during the era of racial segregation in the U.S.As the years went by, Lee and I were partners in the JC Penney Team Championship at Doral.”

Lee Elder chips up to the green during the 1975 Masters Tournament. Photo by Augusta National/Getty Images

Lee Elder during the opening ceremony prior to the start of the first round of the 2021 Masters. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Powell added: “This year, I was proudly standing next to the first tee at Augusta National when Lee was given Honorary Starter status alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player to open the Masters.

“Thank goodness, Lee was finally recognised there! Please keep his wife, Sharon, in your prayers.”

Elder‘s cause of death has not been revealed.

Golf legend Tiger Woods acknowledged that Elder was an inspiration for his career.

“Lee Elder meant a lot to me because he was the first,” he said.

“He was the one that I looked up to and because of what he did, I was able to play and to live my dream.”

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry tweeted: “One of my heroes … words don‘t do justice to the impact you had on golf and the Black community. All I can say right now is thank you for blazing the trail. It’s on us to stay the course and keep going in your honour. Rest easy legend.”

#RIP Lee Elder

A true trailblazer and gentleman in the world of professional golf

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) November 29, 2021

RIP Lee Elder. A legend, pioneer and inspiration.

— Kristi Toliver (@KristiToliver) November 29, 2021

Lee Elder wasn't resentful when he had every reason to be. Ask him about death threats when he became the first Black to play a Masters & he'd tell you about the support he felt from the (mostly white) galleries. And the (mainly Black) employees lining up to shake his hand. #RIP

— Robert Lusetich (@RobertLusetich) November 29, 2021

Elder became the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975, a spot he earned after winning the 1974 Monsanto Open.

He was constantly bothered by unruly fans during the tournament, frequently receiving hate mail and threatening phone calls.

The 87-year-old took part in the traditional ceremonial start to the Masters in April 2021.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission