Lee Elder, first Black golfer to play in Masters, dies at age 87

PGA Tour pioneer Lee Elder, the first Black player to compete in the Masters, has died at age 87.

The tour confirmed his death on Monday morning.

Elder, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, made his groundbreaking appearance at Augusta National in 1975. He was celebrated at the Masters this past April when he was named an honorary starter alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

"My heart is very soft this morning, not heavy soft, soft because of the wonderful things that I have encountered since arriving here on Monday and being able to see some of the great friends that I have made over the past years, especially like these two gentlemen that are here," Elder said at the time of Nicklaus and…