Sifford was First African American to Play on the PGA Tour

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) released the following statement this afternoon after leading a bipartisan letter with Congressmen James Clyburn (D-SC), Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and John Yarmuth (D-KY) to President Obama, encouraging him to award a Presidential Medal of Freedom to golfer Charlie Sifford, the first African American to play on the PGA Tour:

“The game of golf was forever improved by the courage and determination of Charlie Sifford - one man who rose to become the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. He earned the right to play the sport he loved, and by excelling at the game, he ushered professional golf into a new era.”

“Just as Jackie Robinson pioneered the way with baseball, Charlie took the first swing at tearing down the unjust barriers that prevented the best athletes from getting the chance to compete. By proving who he was as an athlete and ambassador of the game, Charlie created a new environment that all Americans can enjoy to this day.”

“I’m proud and honored to have led this effort on behalf of Mr. Sifford and hope that President Obama will move quickly in making this distinction a reality.”

This morning, Congresswoman Ellmers sent a letter to President Obama encouraging him to award a Presidential Medal of Freedom to golfer Charlie Sifford - the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. Ellmers’ leadership in this effort united nearly every member of the North Carolina congressional delegation in support of this honor and has garnered 64 members as co-signers to date. North Carolina shares a rich history with the game of golf and was the childhood home of Charlie Sifford. The state also hosted the U.S. Open Championships recently in Congresswoman Ellmers’ district.

Denied the right to compete on the Tour for nearly two decades, Mr. Sifford ultimately prevailed and had a successful, if belated, PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour career, culminating in his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. The three leading governing authorities of the game of golf in the United States, the PGA of America, PGA Tour, and USGA, have recommended Mr. Sifford for this honor.

Click here to view the letter to President Obama on behalf of Charlie Sifford.

# # #

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is Chairwoman of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee.

She represents the Second District of North Carolina which includes all of Fort Bragg.

ellmers.house.gov | 202.225.4531