Charles Sifford made history in 1961 as the first African American to play professionally on the PGA Tour. Sifford made history again in 2004 as the first Black golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In honor of Sifford’s trailblazing legacy and contributions to changing the game, the 2022 Presidents Cup announced the creation of the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup, a new event set to occur during the tournament’s media day on August 29.
Presented by Bridgestone, Citi, Cognizant and Nucor, the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup features six of the country’s top men’s golf programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), competing in an exhibition match under Presidents Cup format and routing at host Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Incidentally, Sifford’s hometown is Charlotte, North Carolina, and he was born and raised there. North Carolina’s Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte will serve as the host school for the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup. The event will feature the top four HBCU Division I men’s golf programs and the top HBCU Division II program, as determined by the Golfstat Ranking following the conclusion of the NCAA season.
Charles Sifford | Getty Images
Charles Sifford | Getty Images
“Johnson C. Smith University is honored to be the host school for the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup,” said men’s golf coach William Watkins. “Our student-athletes look forward to competing on a world-class course like Quail Hollow Club while helping to showcase the many talented golfers who represent the HBCU programs in our sport.”
Teams are comprised of the top four players from each program’s 2022-23 roster, split into two teams of 12 with players remaining intact with their college teammates. The morning competition will be foursomes (alternate shot), while the afternoon will be singles (head-to-head), allowing for 18 points to be earned during the exhibition. The first team to accrue 9.5 points will be deemed the winner champions of the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup.
At the conclusion of the competition, U.S. Team Captain Davis Love III and International Team Captain Trevor Immelman will make their official Captain’s picks for the 2022 Presidents Cup. Love will get six selections, while Immelman will get four, with automatic qualifiers solidified following the conclusion of the BMW Championship on August 21. All HBCU participants and coaches will be invited to attend the selection show, which will take place onsite at Quail Hollow Club.
Courtesy Presidents Cup
“On behalf of the Presidents Cup and Quail Hollow Club, we are pleased to welcome college golf’s top HBCU players to Charlotte and this community to compete in this exciting new event,” said 2022 Presidents Cup Chair Johno Harris. “As a native of Charlotte and the first African-American golfer on the PGA TOUR, Charlie Sifford’s legacy lives on not only through the impact of events such as this, but throughout communities around the country where golf has enabled countless young men and women from all backgrounds to benefit from this tremendous sport.”
In addition to the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup, the Presidents Cup will host a Leadership Summit during the event week in September. The Summit will highlight representatives from Bridgestone, Citi, Cognizant and Nucor, as well as other leadership executives from the world of sport, and Presidents from HBCUs, with an in-depth discussion, focused on DE&I efforts at the intersection of sport and corporate America and the integral role HBCU programs can play in the growth and success of those efforts.
The 2022 Presidents Cup will be held at Quail Hollow Club the week of September 20-25. For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com.
