Charlie Sifford, the first black man to play on the PGA Tour, passed away Tuesday. He was 92.
A pioneer in golf, Sifford earned a place among golf's elite players after the PGA of America desegregated in 1961. He won twice in his PGA Tour career, including the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and 1969 Los Angeles Open. He won two senior titles.
Sifford had recently suffered a stroke and was battling a bacterial infection in a Cleveland hospital.
The Northern Trust Open, the modern name of the L.A. Open, created an exemption in 2009 named after Sifford designed to offer an opportunity to compete in the event for a player who represents furthering golf's diversity and who would otherwise not qualify for the tournament. The exemption has since been renamed the Northern Trust Open Exemption.
In 2001, Sifford became the first black golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Last November, he became just the third golfer, behind Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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