Lee Elder, the first Black man to play in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, died Sunday at the age of 87.
Elder broke the color barrier at the famed Georgia golf club in 1975 after winning the 1974 Monsanto Open at Pensacola Country Club in Florida.
Elder was chosen to help kick off the 2021 Masters, joining Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player on the first tee as an honorary starter. Unable to swing and using an oxygen tank to assist his breathing, Elder used a driver for balance. When he sat down during a round of applause after being announced, he said, “That feels good.”
Check out photos of Elder through the years below.
1975 Masters
Lee Elder is seen arriving at Augusta National Golf Club to play a practice round on…
Lee Elder is seen arriving at Augusta National Golf Club to play a practice round on April 10, 1975. He became the first Black man to play the Masters that year. (AP)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, leaves the Augusta National clubhouse…
Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, leaves the Augusta National clubhouse on April 7, 1975. (AP)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder plays Augusta National during the Masters on April 8, 1975. (The Augusta Chronicle via…
Lee Elder plays Augusta National during the Masters on April 8, 1975. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder walks to practice at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via…
Lee Elder walks to practice at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder practices at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY…
Lee Elder practices at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder, right, plays Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY…
Lee Elder, right, plays Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1975 Masters
Lee Elder watches a shot at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via…
Lee Elder watches a shot at Augusta National during the 1975 Masters. (The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1997 Masters
Masters champion Tiger Woods gets a hug from Lee Elder, left, after the final round of…
Masters champion Tiger Woods gets a hug from Lee Elder, left, after the final round of the 1997 Masters in which Woods became the first Black man to win at Augusta National. (AP/Amy Sancetta, File)
2019
Lee Elder attends the Woodson Las Vegas MGM Resorts Invitational at Shadow Creek Golf Course on…
Lee Elder attends the Woodson Las Vegas MGM Resorts Invitational at Shadow Creek Golf Course on July 07, 2019 in Las Vegas. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for PGD Global)
2019
Lee Elder attends a game between the Connecticut Suns and the Las Vegas Aces at Mandalay…
Lee Elder attends a game between the Connecticut Suns and the Las Vegas Aces at Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 2, 2019 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images )
2021 Masters
The names of honorary starters Lee Elder, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are placed at the…
The names of honorary starters Lee Elder, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are placed at the first tee during the first round of the Masters. Elder joined Nicklaus and Players as starters at that event. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Masters
Honorary starter Lee Elder watches on the first tee during the first round of the 2021…
Honorary starter Lee Elder watches on the first tee during the first round of the 2021 Masters golf tournament. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Masters
Gary Player (middle) and Jack Nicklaus (right) clap as Lee Elder is introduced on the first…
Gary Player (middle) and Jack Nicklaus (right) clap as Lee Elder is introduced on the first tee during the first round of the 2021 Masters (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
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