Clifford Roberts

Clifford Roberts (March 6, 1894 – September 29, 1977) was an American investment dealer and golf administrator.

Born in Morning Sun, Iowa, Roberts had a troubled family life as a boy, and left school in the ninth grade. He worked at a great variety of jobs all around the United States, and eventually chose the investment industry for his career.

Roberts served as Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club from 1931 through 1976, and was named "Chairman in Memoriam" after his death. He also served as Chairman of the Masters Tournament from 1934 through 1976.

An investment banker on Wall Street from the late 1920s, Roberts was a partner with Reynolds & Company. He and Bobby Jones were co-founders of the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. In the early years, they personally extended invitations to the tournament. Roberts' friendship with President Dwight Eisenhower led to the Eisenhowers making Augusta National their retreat during the 1950s.

Roberts was sometimes described as a 'benevolent dictator'. Roberts received many awards and honors during his lifetime, including service on the PGA Advisory Committee from its inception in 1943 until his death, appointment by the United States Golf Association to serve on the Bob Jones Award Selection Committee, and election to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978. He was the author of The Story of the Augusta National Golf Club, published in 1976, and a subject of a book titled The Making of the Masters, Clifford Roberts, Augusta National, and Golf's Most Prestigious Tournament by David Owen, published in 1999.

It was not until 1975 that tour pro Lee Elder became the first black to play in the Masters Tournament (although he was not the first non-white to compete; Sukree Onsham of Thailand played in 1970 and 1971). Roberts is quoted as saying "to make an exception would be practicing discrimination in reverse." Lee Elder later said, "I don't want anything special. I will make it on my own."

According to The New York Times, another comment attributed to Roberts is: "As long as I'm alive, all the golfers will be white and all the caddies will be black."

At the end of the Monday playoff in 1966, CBS commentator Jack Whitaker referred to the energetic crowd on the 18th fairway following the three players as a "mob" and he was banned by Roberts until 1972.

A year after stepping down, Roberts committed suicide by gunshot in 1977 on the banks of Ike's Pond on the Par-3 course at Augusta National. At age 83, he had been in ill health for several months with cancer and had a debilitating stroke. Both of his parents had also committed suicide.

Several weeks later, a bronze plaque in his honor was unveiled at the clubhouse entrance.

• You Tube – Clifford Roberts interview