Sifford was called the Jackie Robinson of golf for breaking the color barrier in 1961 when he was 38 years old.
“I wanted to prove that a black man could play golf,” he told CNN affiliate WEWS after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November.
His son told the station that his father was advised by Robinson to use his smooth swing to fight the integration battle.
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President Obama on the passing of Charlie Sifford, the first African American golfer to earn a PGA tour card. pic.twitter.com/oEuAZ4EdMm
CNN’s Quand Thomas contributed to this report.
