AUGUSTA, Ga. – A handful of current and past Masters competitors made their way to the first tee early Thursday morning at Augusta National to watch history. Among them was Cameron Champ, one of just four Black members on the PGA Tour, who stood in amazement as Lee Elder, the first Black player to tee it up in the Masters, helped kick off this 85th edition as an honorary starter alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
“It was just amazing for them to recognize Lee being the first African-American to play in the Masters,” Champ said on the range afterward.