Lee Elder
| Lee Elder | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Robert Lee Elder |
| Born |
July 14, 1934 Dallas, Texas |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Nationality |
 United States
|
| Residence | Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1959 |
| Retired | 2005 |
| Former tour(s) |
PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 14 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 4 |
| PGA Tour Champions | 8 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in major championships |
|
| Masters Tournament | T17: 1979 |
| U.S. Open | T11: 1979 |
| The Open Championship | T36: 1979 |
| PGA Championship | T11: 1974 |
Robert Lee Elder (born July 14, 1934) is a retired American professional golfer. He is best remembered for becoming the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.
One of ten children, Elder was born in Dallas, Texas, to Charles and Almeta Elder. He was nine years old when his father was killed in Germany during World War II, and his mother died three months later. At the age of 12, Elder found himself moving from one ghetto to another before being sent to Los Angeles, California to live with his aunt. Elder frequently cut classes to work as a caddy, and after two years at Manual Arts High School he dropped out.
Elder met his future wife, Rose Harper, at a golf tournament in Washington, D.C. The two got married in 1966. After getting married, Rose gave up her golfing career to become his manager.
Elder did not play a full round of 18 holes until he was 16. He took jobs in pro shops and locker rooms, in addition to caddying where he developed his game by watching his clients, and playing when he had the opportunity. Elder's game developed sufficiently for him to start hustling. His career took a big step after playing a match with heavyweight boxer Joe Louis, which led to Louis’s golf instructor, Ted Rhodes, taking Elder under his wing for three years. Under the tutelage of Rhodes, Elder was able to polish his game and he began playing in tournaments.
In 1959, Elder was drafted into the Army, and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. While at Fort Lewis, Elder had the good fortune to be under the command of Colonel John Gleaster who was an avid golfer. Gleaster put Elder in a special services unit, which allowed him the opportunity to play golf on a steady basis.
Elder was discharged from the army in 1961, and joined the United Golf Association Tour (UGA) for black players. He had a dominant stretch in which he won 18 of 22 consecutive tournaments, but this tour did not have large prizes, often in the range of $500.
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