From John Shippen to Tiger Woods and Renee Powell to Charlie Sifford, AfricanAmericans have played a significant role in the growth of golf, both on and off the course. Here is a timeline marking some of the many memorable moments in the history of AfricanAmericans in golf.
1896: John Shippen, whose father was AfricanAmerican and whose mother was Shinnecock Indian, plays in the second U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he worked as a caddie, at the age of 17. Some of the professional players threaten to boycott the event when they discover his race, but back down when USGA President Theodore Havemayer defends Shippen and another entrant, Shinnecock Indian Oscar Bunn. Shippen ties for sixth and wins $10. He goes on to play in five more U.S. Opens.