Category: Feature Articles

The quality of the field year after year, the difficulty of the course, the history of the competition, the place on the yearly PGA Tour schedule–all point to serious consideration of the tournament being called the “Fifth Men’s Professional Golf Major”.  By Herschel Caldwell The subject of The Players becoming the fifth major comes up annually and fervently. However, many top professionals look on The Players as a uniquely private “professional players only” experience with narrow entry and minimized participation (not owing to the open championships where anyone has a chance to qualify regardless of status or professional achievement. The… Read More »

The following article was produced by PGA Tour Headquarters : emilytillo@pgatourhq.com “As the nation celebrates Black History Month with observances and activities honoring the historic contributions of African Americans, THE PLAYERS is no exception. This month, THE PLAYERS introduced Foreward Together, a new exhibit that highlights and chronicles the milestones and impact of African Americans in golf. The exhibit, which also highlights Jacksonville leaders’ contributions to the integration of golf, will be on display at TPC Sawgrass during the month of February and will relocate to the atrium of Jacksonville City Hall for display throughout March.” Foreward Together features interactive… Read More »

Tiger Woods, Willie Mack III, Harold Varner III, Tony Finau*, Cameron James, Joseph Bramlett, Ryan Alford, Kamaiu Johnson, Mulbe Dillard 2021 was the year that Golfers of Color and Black American professional golfers made tremendous strides. PGA Tour wins by Tony Finau and Cameron James, top ten finishes by Harold Varner III, and the excellent play of Joseph Bramlett and others, are all encouraging signs of an even- greater 2022 year. We begin this story with the “teasingly hopeful” possibility that Tiger Woods might return to the PGA Tour. Woods has been very cautious and upfront about when and/or if… Read More »

The Rocket Mortgage Classic made its debut as a PGA Tour event held in Detroit in 2019, and the impact has been immediate. The outreach to the metro Detroit community and its efforts to achieve diversity is well known.  By Herschel Caldwell Rocket Mortgage (a subsidiary of Quicken Loans) is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender, reporting more than $350 billion in volume in 2020. Rocket Mortgage is known for innovation, using digital and state-of-the-art technology to create a welcoming environment for homebuyers across the country. Fortune’s list of 500 companies lists Rocket Companies, Rocket Mortgage’s parent company, as #5… Read More »

Editor’s note: Lenwood Robinson, author, historian penned a novel in 1996 called the Black Golfer, a Chicago Perspective. His work and writings on Black Golf in America is as relevant today as it was twenty-five years ago. Minority Golf Magazine chose to print excerpts in it’s February 1997 issue and the story remains important today as the PGA and the Chicago Golf Club (site of the 2021 Rocket Mortgage PGA tournament) prepare to host a national co-ed tournament featuring a field of top African American male and female golfers from around the country.  The Women’s Division will feature a 36-hole… Read More »

This historic victory has reverberated in Asia and throughout the world. Because the benefits are so immense, there is no way to accurately measure the impact of what the young Mr. Matsuyama accomplished at this year’s Masters Tournament. Ah, yes, the $2,070.000 winnings are readily calculable and future endorsements—along with  other commercial opportunities—are very much a given for this Japanese professional.  However, what is immeasurable is the impact on the geopolitical and social landscape of America and the rest of the golfing world. When asked if he felt the weight of the day on the back nine, Matsuyama said through… Read More »