Happy MLK Day: Saynora, Charlie Sifford Exemption
/So I attended a lovely media day event at Riviera on a rainy Martin Luther King Jr. day to kick off the countdown to the Northern Trust Open. The highlight came when a Northern Trust exec introduced Joshua Wooding, the recipient of this year's Charlie Sifford exemption, which started in 2009 as a way to honor an aspiring player who "represents the advancement of diversity." The exec even called it the Sifford exemption today but when the press release arrived in my in box, it became quite clear that Sifford's name has been removed.
The release:
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – At media day today to kick off the two-week countdown to the start of the 2010 Northern Trust Open, tournament officials announced the recipient of this year’s Northern Trust Open Exemption: 23-year-old Joshua Wooding of Riverside, Calif., a 2007 graduate of the University of Southern Calif. Wooding was chosen from a pool of applications to receive the exemption, sponsored by Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS), which annually provides a playing opportunity for a top golfer who represents the advancement of diversity in golf and wouldn’t otherwise be eligible to compete in the 2010 tournament. The 2010 Northern Trust Open will be held February 1-7 at historic Riviera Country Club.
“Joshua is a talented golfer and a true leader who understands the importance of promoting diversity in professional golf,” said Northern Trust Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick H. Waddell. “This unique exemption reflects Northern Trust’s long-standing commitment to promoting diversity throughout our company because we know it is fundamental to our strength. We are proud to offer Joshua this exemption and look forward to watching his success.”
Wooding began playing golf at age nine and competed in his first National Minority Junior Golf Foundation event at the age of 12. He won the tournament and earned an exemption into the 1997 Westfield PGA Junior Championship, then played at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Fla. At that time, he was the youngest to ever qualify for the event. Wooding’s Web site includes further details on his accomplishments. Visit, www.joshuawooding.com
“I am honored to receive the Northern Trust Open Exemption,” said Wooding. “This incredible opportunity will create a springboard for me to advance my career and continue my quest to participate at the highest level. More importantly, the Northern Trust Open Exemption will assist me in meeting my future goals of giving back and helping to widen the path for other minority golfers.”
And the fine print, which clarifies this is no mistake (well, except a huge black eye for the Northern Trust and the PGA Tour execs who thought this would be a swell change)...
The Northern Trust Open has a long history of promoting inclusion among minorities. In 1952, the tournament welcomed Joe Louis as the first African-American to compete in a PGA sanctioned event. In 2009, the inaugural tournament exemption was named in honor of Charlie Sifford on the 40th anniversary of his victory at the 1969 Northern Trust Open. Vincent Johnson, a two-time college winner who graduated from Oregon State in three years, was the Northern Trust Open Exemption’s first recipient.
Just a refresher, last year's PGATour.com story announcing the exemption:
Nearly 50 years after Charlie Sifford became the first black man to join the PGA TOUR, the Northern Trust Open announced Monday an exemption in his name for a player who represents the advancement of diversity in golf.
The annual "Charlie Sifford Exemption" will be recognized Feb. 18, the day before the tournament begins at Riviera Country Club.
