Lee Elder first played in the Masters in 1975.
Elder’s appearance was a landmark in golf history: he became the first Black golfer to compete in the Masters Tournament. He earned his invitation by winning the 1974 Monsanto Open, his first PGA Tour victory. That win secured entry to Augusta National the following April.
Elder shot 74 in the opening round and 78 in the second round of the 1975 Masters, finishing at 152 and missing the cut. The result mattered less than the barrier he broke; Augusta National had not previously invited a Black American golfer to compete in the event.
A common mix-up is confusing Elder’s Masters debut with his later achievements. He returned several more times and made the cut in 1979, while in the same year he became the first Black American golfer to qualify for the Ryder Cup. In 2021, Elder also participated in the Masters’ ceremonial opening traditions.