Truist, Charlotte Plan Statue To Honor Legendary Golfer Charlie Sifford

A $250,000 bronze tribute to Charlie Sifford, who shattered the PGA Tour's color barrier, will soon stand tall on Charlotte's Trail of History. The Truist Championship pledged half the funds to build the statue.

At a packed community event on Wednesday, officials shared their vision for the memorial. The statue will join other local icons on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, with its final spot still under consideration.

Born in Charlotte in 1922, Sifford struck down the PGA Tour's "Caucasian-only" rule in 1961. His skill on the green led to wins at the Greater Hartford Open and Los Angeles Open, proving his critics wrong in the most decisive way possible.

"I started playing golf because I loved the game, and I love it because it requires you to use your brain," Sifford said, according to The Charlotte Post in 2011. "We didn't have golf in school when I was there, and Blacks weren't allowed to play at the country club."

In 2014, Sifford stood in the White House as President Barack Obama placed the Presidential Medal of Freedom around his neck. The nation's highest civilian award marked his unwavering spirit and determination to change the sport.

Quail Hollow Club president Johnny Harris painted a vivid picture of Sifford at the announcement. "Charlie Sifford was somebody who looked at you, cared about you, but he also loved to beat you," Harris said, per Axios.com. In a candid moment during a Pro Am, Sifford spoke of other skilled Black golfers from Charlotte who never got their chance to shine.

The funds come through the "Truist Tuesday" initiative, a new monthly program starting May 5, 2026. The program kicks into gear during Charlotte's annual PGA Tour stop.

Private donors and community members will match the Truist Championship's $125,000 gift. The tournament, which takes the place of the former Wells Fargo Championship, will unfold at Quail Hollow Club May 6-10, 2026.