Like many other African American professional golfers Jim Thorpe came to the game later in life. Though the son of a greenskeeper Jim’s focus wasn’t on golf initially.
A gifted football player Jim earned a scholarship to Morgan State University to play running back.
In 1972 Jim decided to make golf his career and turned professional.
Turning professional does not guarantee anyone success in golf, and Jim struggled through his first 8 years in golf before his first professional win.
In the documentary Uneven Fairways, Jim noted the financial struggle he was dealing with while he was leading the first round of the 1981 US Open.
“I was dead broke…The only thing in my pocket was a penny to mark my ball with, I’m not lying to you”
Despite not winning, Thorpe made history as the 1st African American to lead the US open since 1896.
Thorpe went on to win 3 times on the PGA Tour and 13 Times on the PGA Tour Champions.
https://www.jimthorpegolf.com/
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