A Cleveland sports legend will soon be making a historic visit to the White House.
President Obama will award Brecksville resident Charles Sifford the nation’s highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for changing the game of golf.
At 92 years young, Sifford is a living legend.
He started his life on the links as a teenager, teaching himself how to play the game of golf while working as a caddy.
Sifford said, “I liked it because it is a skillful game. You take that club and put in in your hand and hit the ball where you want it to go. Work 18 holes and get 60-cents, give mom that 50 and I’d take the dime and buy me a cigar or something.”
After mastering his craft in the late 50s, Sifford, known for smoking his signature cigars, was not allowed to showcase his talents on a national level.
While he was formally excluded from the PGA for much of his career because of the color of his skin, he won six National Negro opens.
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source: Fox8Cleveland.com
