Lee Elder's Historic 1974 Monsanto Open Gold Medal to Earn Masters Invite
The historic Monsanto Open win on April 21, 1974 at Pensacola Country Club earned Lee Elder a 1975 Masters Invitation by the Augusta National Golf Club to become the first Black contestant in the tournament's history! By doing so, 50 years ago this most recent Masters, the resilient Elder would break barriers and make civil rights history - driving hard against the social grain and wishes of much of society. ‘I got (ANGC) off the hook by winning’ Elder would say referring to the PGA Tour win automatic field qualifier. The then recent 1972 rule was put in place years after Pete Brown's 1964 win, along with Charlie Sifford's 1967 and 1969 PGA Tour victories. The tangible artifact for Lee Elder's historic 1974 Monsanto Open winner's medal to earn his Masters invite is very proudly presented here on behalf of Ms. Rose Harper, to whom Elder was then married to.
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It's a Masters medal without being a Masters medal, but so much more. Two back with two to play at the 1974 Monsanto Open, Elder miraculously got to even with Peter Oosterhuis only to outduel him for this prize in a four-hole playoff on the "windswept" course, clinching with an 18-foot par putt. He was escorted into a waiting police car and later the clubhouse for a secure trophy ceremony.
“Baby, we did it,” Elder told his wife Harper. “We finally did it, Baby. We finally won.” Augusta National Chairman Clifford Roberts was swiftly notified of Elder's triumph and quoted as giving what was perhaps a stock answer of: “He’s automatically earned his invitation, and he will receive an invitation to play in the Masters. We’re very delighted he’s done so.”
What kind of impact did Elder's unprecedented achievement have on future generations? Incalculable. Tiger Woods was quick to give credit where credit was certainly due at the 1997 Masters over two decades later. “(Lee) was the first,” pointed out Woods, not long after winning at age 21. “He was the one I looked up to. Because of what he did, I was able to play here, which was my dream.” Elder would watch Woods' opening tee shot, wish him well and then wait on the grounds for Woods to finish that Sunday in April. The embrace of Elder and green jacket clad Woods happened seven years after they played their first round together at Fox Hills Golf Club in Los Angeles, arranged by Woods' father Earl. “I thanked (Elder) for the sacrifices and what he meant to the game, how hard he fought to make it to the Masters in 1975. He had to earn a spot, and he did.” In conclusion the emotional Woods stated, “He became the first black golfer to play the Masters in the year I was born,” Woods said. “I had often thought of that.”
'Thank you for coming, Mr. Elder': When Lee Elder desegregated the Masters - Article
Lee Elder grew up in the Jim Crow south and played golf in far less than ideal conditions on segregated courses, and a tour that paralleled baseball's negro league. Sticking with that sport for reference purposes, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball on Opening Day in 1947, 14 years prior to the PGA lifting their color barrier for tournament golf in 1961 and another 18 years prior to Elder's inclusion in The Masters' field.
For his 1975 Masters stay, Elder rented two houses that week under an alias. Like Robinson, Elder received unkind anonymous notes, but he was determined to not let it bother him - and he didn't. He was there to do one thing - play golf. The impact Elder made was far greater. A birdie on hole no.3: Flowering Peach in the opening round got his name on the leaderboard on the way to shooting a 74 and then 78. With two unmarked bodyguards, Elder had completed his first Masters. From the Black locker room attendants at ANGC to the Black cooks at their rented house, Elder was their hero. Elder recalled the scene of these individuals lined up in front of the gallery on the 18th hole after his second and final round. “In this booming voice,” elevated atop the cheerful baseline applause: “Thank you for coming, Mr. Elder!” Then again and again from more patrons, He was what they had been waiting for. He was what the sport needed.
Recognizing place in Masters Tournament history, which turned out to be just months before his passing in November, Augusta National Golf Club announced that Lee Elder would join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an Honorary Starter in 2021. "Many athletes are given great rewards for their athletic prowess. I think Lee Elder did something that beats the prowess of an athlete,” Player said.
There is no question that Lee Elder's winner's medal for the 1974 Monsanto Open which locked him in into the 1975 Masters Tournament field here is a museum quality piece. It is also one of the most important items that we have ever offered and that the golf industry has seen. Last month, Thursday April 10, 2025 was exactly 50 years since Elder's 1975 Masters first round start. It was also the first round of this year's Masters. In Chairman Fred Ridley's press conference on Wednesday he made it a point to bring it up. “Fifty years later, Lee's inspiration, his courage and spirit remain truly an inspiration for all of us,” Ridley said. “We never will forget his enduring legacy that made golf a better game for everyone.” Well said, an opportunity for Elder, golf and society was granted with his win at the 1974 Monsanto Open and receipt of this very medal graciously shared with the public by former pro player, then wife, and agent Rose Harper.
Highly impressive is Rose Harper, a leader in her field and many others. She grew up in a family of seven, with brothers and sports all around. Starting out as a proficient bowler, Harper took up golf for her summer activity when she found out about it. Harper would go on to become a professional player herself, as well as change the landscape of the game being the first female manager on the PGA tour. Not just for her client and then husband Lee Elder, but has managed contracts with Pete Brown and Calvin Peete to working with Arnold Palmer, Michael Jordan, tennis' The Williams sisters and Tiger Woods for starters. Harper established the PGA Tour Wives Association. Author of 'Golf: Art of the Deal, Access to Success', Harper has spoken at numerous leadership seminars. Consultant for United States Presidents, as well as heads of state around the world. During her travels of six continents, she facilitated the first event in South Africa in which blacks would be able to attend and sit in the bleachers alongside of whites. We have great gratitude to Rose Harper for the incredible opportunity to present this piece of history on her behalf.
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