The Masters Continues Its Legacy

Early Sunday evening, Tiger Woods defeated Chris DiMarco in a one-hole playoff to win his fourth Masters title. About an hour earlier, Woods executed one of the most dramatic and memorable shots in Masters history when he miraculously chipped in from off the 16th green. It was a Masters tournament for the ages and one that all of its sponsors and commentators were thrilled to be a part of. There were immediate historical references, from Tiger's joining Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only 4-time Masters winners, to where Woods' shot on 16 ranked among other legendary Masters moments.

The entire tournament is steeped in tradition and the Augusta National Golf Club itself was built as a working monument to a game that has endured for centuries as an example of sportsmanship and self-policing fair play. For many who love the game of golf however, the Masters tournament and, more specifically Augusta National, seems to send a mixed message about the what should be expected of the game's greatest venue.

Despite the awe inspiring landscape and the manicured rolling hills of Augusta National, there still lingers an air of exclusivity that goes beyond that of mere wealth and privilege. We all know that Augusta National does not allow female members and has virtually no minority representation among its membership. As a private club, Augusta National is entitled to do almost whatever it sees fit to do, especially when it comes to determining and enforcing the exclusivity of its membership criteria and screening processes. In contrast, the Masters is a sporting event, a competitive challenge that is meant to bring together the best in the game to determine an undisputed champion. There is no place for exclusion amid open competition.

Yet up until 1975, no African American had played in a Masters tournament. It is worth noting that this was 30 years after Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Lee Elder was the first to play in the Masters tournament and he did so amidst a hail of death threats as well as countless open verbal assaults. As a result of Elder’s courage, the color barrier at the Masters tournament was finally broken. This, of course, did not carry over to Augusta National, as their historical policy of exclusion remains largely unchanged.

Despite this being the 30th anniversary of Elder’s monumental exercise in bravery, there was no official commemoration of the event. No special segment by CBS (not even a poem from Dick Enberg). No well-placed "Thank You" from one of the many sponsors of the Masters. And certainly no official recognition from Augusta National Golf Club.

Tiger Woods is a minority athlete who has transcended race and is the only African American to ever win the Masters. Yet even while he won his fourth Masters title in memorable fashion, there was no mention of Elder’s triumphant Masters tournament that had occurred exactly 30 years earlier. Elder never won the Masters, but it would seem that he has won the right to be officially recognized for his historical achievement at Augusta National. Of course Augusta National and the Masters tournament is not required to do it, but wouldn’t it be nice?