( CNN ) Charlie Sifford , the first African-American to play on the PGA Tour , died Tuesday at age 92 , the Professional Golfers ' Association of America said . `` His love of golf , despite many barriers in his path , strengthened him as he became a beacon for diversity in our game , '' PGA of America President Derek Sprague said in a statement . `` By his courage , Dr. Sifford inspired others to follow their dreams . ... Golf was fortunate to have had this exceptional American in our midst . '' Sifford was called the Jackie Robinson of golf for breaking the color barrier in 1961 when he was 38 years old . `` I wanted to prove that a black man could play golf , '' he told CNN affiliate WEWS after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November . His son told the station that his father was advised by Robinson to use his smooth swing to fight the integration battle . `` Which I think is the way he went through his struggles -- smooth , quiet , '' Craig Sifford told the station . Unlike Robinson , who took the field with eight teammates , Charlie Sifford played an individual 's game . `` It did n't bother me . It was n't going to stop me , '' Sifford said . Tiger Woods referred to Sifford as a grandfather . `` Terrible loss for golf and me personally . My grandfather is gone , and we all lost a brave , decent and honorable man . I 'll miss u Charlie , '' Woods tweeted . Jack Nicklaus said Sifford was his playing partner for the first two rounds Nicklaus played in a PGA Tour event . He called Sifford a kind and gracious gentleman . `` Charlie led by example , handling himself with great class and dignity inside and outside the ropes , '' Nicklaus said on his website . `` We ca n't underestimate the impact Charlie 's career has had on the face of golf today . Charlie was a leader and an inspiration . '' Sifford won two PGA Tour events , his first victory coming in the 1967 Greater Hartford Open . He also won at the Los Angeles Open two years later . It was a difficult career . In his speech honoring Sifford at the White House , President Barack Obama talked about Sifford 's travails . `` Charlie was sometimes banned from clubhouse restaurants . Folks threatened him , shouted slurs from the gallery , kicked his ball into the rough , '' the President said . `` Charlie 's laughing about that -- my ball is always in the rough . '' On Wednesday the President said he was honored to award the golfer the Presidential Medal of Freedom `` for altering the course of the sport and the country he loved . '' People we 've lost in 2015 . CNN 's Quand Thomas contributed to this report .
Charlie Sifford joined the PGA Tour in 1961 at age 38 . He won two Tour events , the first in 1962 . Tiger Woods calls his death a terrible loss .