Jim Dent

“I can air mail the golf ball, but sometimes I don’t put the right address on it. – Jim Dent

Growing up in Augusta Georgia Jim Dent had and early introduction to the game of golf.  Living just a few miles from Augusta National Golf Club, Dent spent his some of his childhood summers caddying at the famed home of the Masters golf tournament.  

His early introduction to golf did not immediately lead to a career.  Talented in other sports, he received a scholarship to play football at Paine College. 

After college Dent concentrated on golf and competed successfully on the United Golf Association (UGA) tour after turning pro in 1966.  The UGA was a tour comprised of and run by African American as an alternative to the PGA which instituted a “Caucasian
Only” clause until 1961.

Dent graduated from the PGA’s Tour Qualifying School in 1970 and received full PGA tour membership in 1974.  

He went on to win four times on the PGA tour; however most of his professional success came in the form of 12 wins on the Senior PGA tour (now, Champions Tour).  

Despite growing up in Augusta he would never play in the hailed Masters Tournament.  No African American would qualify for the Masters until Lee Elder did so in 1975.

“Whenever I win a tournament that’s my Masters’’ Dent noted in an interview. 
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 And win he did, racking up more than $18 million dollars over the course of his career.