AUGUSTA, Georgia — Fifty years ago, when Lee Elder made history as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, he wasn`t keen on discussing the significance.
`I`m not talking,` Elder told reporters on April 7, 1975. `Every time I talk, I get into trouble.`
His wife and agent confirmed his stance. `Lee believes this is the fairest approach,` Rose Elder explained. `He is here to play golf and wishes to be left alone.`
However, Elder`s caddie, Henry J. Brown, a taxi driver from Augusta, Georgia, was never short of words. He confidently declared that if Elder didn`t perform well against champions like Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Johnny Miller, it wouldn`t be due to his caddying.
`I`m the best,` Brown stated. `I can navigate this course with my eyes closed. I know every inch of it. Lee just needs to stay calm. I guarantee he won`t be out-caddied.`
While Elder`s participation was a landmark moment, breaking racial barriers at the prestigious Masters, it also introduced the world to Henry Brown, a remarkable personality whose story has remained largely untold for half a century.
`Henry Brown was quite a character, and an exceptional golfer himself,` recalled Dave Wilmes, who befriended Brown in South Bend, Indiana, in the early 1980s. `He was a master on the course, especially with his short game. And he loved to show off.`
For the first four decades of the Masters, participation was limited to white golfers, with Black individuals serving as caddies. By the early 1970s, Brown hoped Elder could change this. He had been asking to caddie for Elder at the Masters for four years, should he qualify.
Elder`s breakthrough came when he won the Monsanto Open on April 21, 1974, defeating Peter Oosterhuis in a playoff. Soon after, Masters chairman Clifford Roberts extended an invitation to Elder for the 1975 tournament.
While Elder was not the first African American to win on the PGA Tour, he was the first to do so after the Masters changed its entry rules to include Black golfers.
Upon Elder`s arrival at Augusta National, Brown was there to greet him. Despite his self-assurance, Brown wasn`t considered the top caddie at Augusta National. That title was usually attributed to figures like Willie Peterson or Willie `Pappy` Stokes, or Nathaniel `Iron Man` Avery. Yet, Brown had already been part of Masters history.
In the 1968 Masters, Brown caddied for Roberto De Vicenzo, who famously missed a playoff due to signing an incorrect scorecard, a significant blunder in sports history.
De Vicenzo had birdied the 17th, tying for the lead, but his playing partner mistakenly recorded a par. Failing to correct the error, De Vicenzo`s higher score stood, costing him the chance to compete for the green jacket.
Years later, Brown recounted how he attempted to confront Aaron, believing he had wronged De Vicenzo.
Subsequently, Brown also caddied for Goalby and Art Wall Jr.
As Elder stood on the first tee at the 1975 Masters, his nerves were palpable. To ease the tension, he joked with the crowd and asked about the drizzling weather.
Jim Brown, the former NFL star, was present to witness Elder`s historic tee shot. Elder`s supporters were also in attendance, with him receiving a significant number of tournament badges.
Although the initial jitters subsided, Elder and Brown`s caddying styles didn`t immediately align. Brown preferred judging distances visually, while Elder relied on precise yardages.
According to Ward Clayton’s book, `The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National,` Elder mentioned that Brown`s caddying approach differed from his usual style, as he preferred yardage-based play.
Elder recovered after a birdie on the second hole but faced challenges on subsequent holes. He finished the first round with a 74, trailing the leader but still within reach of the top ten.
The second round proved tougher in windy conditions, and Elder`s 78 led to him missing the cut.
`I messed up,` Elder admitted. `I started poorly and was inconsistent. I was distracted by the scenery.`
However, Brown recognized Elder`s professionalism. He noted that Elder remained composed despite the pressure.
Brown, a skilled golfer in his own right, had once been praised by De Vicenzo, who believed Brown could even outplay him.
Ike `Stabber` Choice, a fellow Augusta National caddie, remembered Brown`s golfing prowess at Augusta Municipal Golf Course, known as the Patch. Brown and others often won against visiting golfers there.
Choice mentioned that Brown`s familiarity with the Patch`s nuances contributed to his low scores there.
Brown`s unique cross-handed grip and ambidextrous ability set him apart. He frequently played at the Patch with other caddies like Tommy `Burnt Biscuits` Bennett, Jariah `Bubba` Beard, `Cigarette` Bobby Jones, and Jim Dent.
In 1980, Larry Adamson from the USGA received an unforgettable letter from Brown, written from Richmond County Jail. Brown, accused but not indicted for an alleged incident, sought to participate in the U.S. Open qualifiers.
In his letter to Adamson, Brown requested an opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Open, even from jail. He had missed the initial qualifier due to his incarceration.
Adamson explained to Brown the standard procedures and deadlines for qualification.
Undeterred, Brown even suggested to Adamson to arrange a special qualifier with P.J. Boatwright Jr. as his marker, even proposing to be handcuffed between shots.
Upon his release, Brown contacted Adamson again, eager to register for the 1981 U.S. Open qualifier, but missed the deadline and entry fee again.
Robert Lee, an attorney overseeing U.S. Open qualifiers, recalled Brown`s confident arrival at South Bend Country Club, presenting his Augusta National caddie ID and declaring his U.S. Open aspirations.
Brown used the salvage yard address as it was a place he frequented for odd jobs and storytelling. He would entertain the workers there with golf stories and trick shots.
Lee described Brown`s captivating demonstrations at the salvage yard, hitting golf balls with precision and showmanship.
Brown was known for his skill with Slazenger irons and his ability to execute shots from any lie. He was exceptionally talented with a wedge and could play both right and left-handed, often using the latter to win bets.
In 1982, Brown finally submitted his U.S. Open application on time. However, on the day of the qualifier, a flat tire incident added to the drama.
Despite the setback, Brown excelled in the 36-hole qualifier, tying for the lead and advancing to sectional qualifying.
Local media covered Brown`s success, capturing the tire change incident during an interview.
At sectional qualifying, Brown narrowly missed qualifying for the 1982 U.S. Open by a single stroke. He reached sectional qualifying for the next three years but never made it to the U.S. Open itself.
Adamson remembered Brown`s positive attitude despite the repeated setbacks and missed opportunities.
In 1992, golf writer John Fineran encountered a car with Georgia plates and an Augusta National caddie hat, realizing Brown might be unwell.
Henry Brown passed away in 1992 at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy of talent and unrealized potential.
Jim Murray, a renowned sports columnist, had previously written about Brown`s life, highlighting his humble beginnings, his caddying career, and his exceptional but unrecognized golf talent.
Murray poignantly remarked that had Brown been white, his life and recognition might have been drastically different.
