The soul of the game lives in many places. The courses where it’s played. The people who play it and the legacies they leave behind.

Lee Elder shattered barriers, and in 1975, he became the first Black man to compete at Augusta. In the process, he changed more lives than he could have ever imagined and eternally wove his spirit into the soul of the game.

He was a monumentally important figure in golf, but he played in an era in which the prize money was a fraction of what it is now. Moreover, sponsorships were not nearly as plentiful or lucrative, certainly not for a Black man. After retiring from the competition, Lee would play celebrity golf events, make special appearances, and accept speaking engagements to make money. That line of income quickly dried during the pandemic and as his health worsened.

After standing lovingly by his side for 30 years, his wife, Sharon, now faces a serious health crisis of her own and is embattled with Alzheimer’s. Faced with mounting medical bills, rising healthcare costs, and no meaningful income to assist, the family is raising money to provide her care – which was of paramount concern to Lee.

We made the “Thank You, Mr. Elder” Charity Tee to commemorate Lee’s accomplishments and support his family. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this t-shirt + any additional donation you wish to make will go directly to the Lee Elder Trust to cover his wife’s healthcare costs and sustain the Lee Elder Memorial Fund to grow his legacy and expand the reach of golf.

Linksoul’s goal has always been to bring people together in the spirit of golf. To show that this game is far better suited for tearing down barriers than putting them up. Few golfers embodied that spirit more than Lee Elder.

Thank you, Mr. Elder, and golf thanks you, as well.