His desire to play professional golf and to continue to pave the way for future Black golfers, despite enduring tireless vitriol, hatred and discrimination continues to inspire minority golfers today. The preservation of his story is imperative to the USGA’s mission of chronicling the history of golf and sharing it with generations to come. The collection will be housed at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, New Jersey. Select items will be on display in Charlie Sifford’s locker at the new World Golf Hall of Fame, which will open on the USGA’s campus in Pinehurst, North Carolina, later this spring. Sifford had a successful career. He won two PGA Tour titles, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. From 19521975, he won 12 non-PGA Tour events, including the 1957 Long Beach Open and 1963 Puerto Rico Open. He competed in 12 U.S. Opens, missing the cut just three times and earning a career best T21 finish in 1972 at Pebble Beach. After turning 50, Sifford competed in seven U.S. Senior Opens. Perhaps his highest honor came when then President Barack Obama awarded Sifford the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. “The Sifford family is extremely honored to entrust to the USGA Golf Museum memorabilia reflecting the life and legacy of Dr. Charles L. Sifford,” said his son, Charles Sifford Jr. “This collection of artifacts represents the grit and perseverance of an African American man’s struggles and successes during an era of racial tension and segregation. My father challenged racial barriers, changing American history and paving the way for future golfers such as Tiger Woods. We are equally proud that the USGA Golf Museum will use this collection to enable future generations to reflect on the key tenets of social equity and commemorate the significance of my father’s contributions to all mankind.” Even Tiger Woods has expressed his appreciation to African American professionals like Sifford for opening doors for minority golfers. We’ll do the hard work if you don’t want to. Custom or DIY Golf Simulator Sales & Installation. www.aceindoorgolf.com l 855-926-3283
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