Lee Elder
Name:
Robert Lee ElderCountry:
USALived:
[1934-2021]. Born on July 14, 1934 in Dallas, Texas. Died on Nov 28, 2021 in Escondido, California (aged 87).Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golfer; philanthropist.Turned Pro:
1959Ryder Cup player (1979). Total professional wins (16), including PGA Tour wins (4) and Senior PGA Tour wins (8).
A trailblazer, four-time PGA Tour winner and eight-time Senior PGA Tour winner, Lee Elder was no stranger to the tough side of life. During his playing career he was subjected to numerous acts of racist behaviour, even though his father had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during World War II. His mother died a few months after his father, leaving nine-year-old Elder, the youngest of ten children, an improverished orphan.
It is a testament to Elder's character that he overcame traumatic difficulties in his early life, and much racial prejudice thereafter, to become a successful PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour player. In 1975, Elder became the first African American to play in the Masters Tournament, and four years later the first to play in the Ryder Cup.
America
Gus Machado
Played as the Gus Machado Senior Classic. Second-placed Al Geiberger (USA) finished 5 shots behind Elder (USA), who recorded the last of his eight US Snr Tr wins. [Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, nr Miami, FL; at the time known as the Links at Key Biscayne].
America
Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest
Played as the Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative. Second-placed Chi Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Elder (USA). [Sleepy Hollow CC, Scarborough, New York].
Asia
Coca-Cola
Played as the Coca-Cola Seniors Grand Slam (May 23-25). Second-placed and defending champion Miller Barber (USA) finished 6 shots behind wire-to-wire winner Elder (USA). [Oak Hills CC, nr Katori, Chiba, Japan].
America
Denver Post
Played as the Denver Post Champions of Golf. Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Elder (USA). [Plum Creek GC, Castle Rock, Colorado; at the time known as TPC Plum Creek].
America
Citizens Union
Played as the Citizens Union Senior Classic. Elder (USA) beat Dan Sikes (USA) and Walt Zembriski (USA) with a birdie at the third playoff hole; Orville Moody (USA) was eliminated at the second playoff hole. [Griffin Gate Resort, Lexington, Kentucky].
America
Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest
Played as the Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am. Elder (USA) beat Peter Thomson (Aus) with an eagle at the first playoff hole. [Newport CC, Newport, Rhode Island].
America
Digital
Played as the Digital Seniors Classic. Elder (USA) beat Jerry Barber (USA) and Don January (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Nashawtuc CC, Concord, Massachusetts].
Asia
Coca-Cola
Played as the Coca-Cola Seniors Grand Slam (Sept 28-30). Second-placed Miller Barber (USA) finished 7 shots behind Elder (USA), who recorded his first win as a senior golfer. [Yokohama CC, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan].
America
x
Played as the Hilton Head Seniors International (Oct 19-21). Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Elder (USA). [Shipyard GC, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina].
America
x
Played as the Suntree Senior Classic. Second-placed Miller Barber (USA) and Gay Brewer (USA) finished 6 shots behind first-time US Snr Tr winner Elder (USA). [Suntree CC, Melbourne, Florida].
America
American Express
Played as the American Express Westchester Classic (Aug 17-20). Second-placed Mark Hayes (USA) finished 1 shot behind Elder (USA), who recorded the last of his four PGA Tour wins. [West course, Westchester CC, Rye, NY].
America
x
Played as the Greater Milwaukee Open (July 6-9). Lee Elder (USA) beat Lee Trevino (USA) with a par at the eighth hole of a sudden-death playoff. [Tuckaway CC, Franklin, nr Milwaukee, Wisc.].
America
x
Played as the Houston Open (Apr 29-May 2). Second-placed Forrest Fezler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lee Elder (USA), who claimed his second PGA Tour title. [The Woodlands CC, nr Houston, TX. Course used was based on the current back-nine of the Tournament course and part of the neighbouring Panther Trail course].
America
Monsanto
Played as the Monsanto Open (Apr 18-21). Elder (USA) beat Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole, to record the first of his four PGA Tour wins. [Pensacola CC, Pensacola, FL].
Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).
Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24).
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Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.
Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
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