Calvin Peete: African-American golfer who only began playing in his 20s but helped pave the way for Tiger Woods
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Calvin Peete was a farm labourer who didn’t touch a golf club until he was in his 20s but went on to become the most successful African-American golfer until Tiger Woods. His 12 career victories were the most by any black golfer on the PGA Tour until Woods surpassed his record in 1999.
One of 19 children – his father worked in a car factory – he picked beans and corn as a child and left school at 15. He spent years selling clothing and jewellery out of his car to farmworkers from Florida to New York, known as the “Diamond Man” for the studs in his front teeth.
Peete had fallen out of a tree when he was 12 and was left with a broken elbow that never healed properly. As a result, he couldn’t straighten his left arm. Perhaps his greatest obstacle was that he didn’t learn the sport until he was an adult. He played golf for the first time at 23, when friends invited him to join them. “Some feeling went through my hands and my body,” he recalled. “I just thought to myself, ‘I think I can learn to play this game.’”
Among the few African-Americans he could look to for inspiration were Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder. He recalled watching Elder play in a televised tournament with Jack Nicklaus. “I said, ‘There’s a black man playing with the best golfer in the world. If I practice just a little bit more, I could be doing the same thing.’ “
Peete spent hours teaching himself until his hands bled. At 31 he qualified for the PGA Tour; he had the diamonds removed from his teeth after a few years. He won his first eveent in 1979 then played alongside Nicklaus at the 1982 US Open: “Watching him, I learned all about what you have to do to win a golf tournament. I was a totally different player after that round.”
From 1982-84 Peete won seven tournaments, then in 1985 won the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, sometimes called golf’s “fifth major” – his confident shot on the 17th hole of the final round has become one of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history: “I noticed that all my competitors looked at me differently and talked to me in an altogether different tone after that.”
His earnings, including eight years on the senior tour, amounted to more than $3m. He said he was always grateful for the strides made by Sifford, Elder and other black golfers. “I reflect just about every day on how far I’ve come,” he said. “I really do.”
MATT SCHUDEL
Calvin Peete, golfer: born Detroit, Michigan 18 July 1943; twice married (six children); died Atlanta, Georgia 29 April 2015.
© The Washington Post
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments