Lee Elder, the first black player to compete in the Masters, dies aged 87

Lee Elder, who has died aged 87, was the first black player to compete in the Masters (Handout provided by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

Lee Elder, who was the first black player to compete in the Masters, has died at the age of 87.

The news, which was first reported by African American Golfer’s Digest and confirmed by the PGA Tour, comes just over seven months since Elder joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter at Augusta National.