Detroit's tour stop to host event to create path for Blacks

The Rocket Mortgage Classic made its debut on the PGA Tour in 2019 and won the inaugural “Fair Way Award” for diversity and inclusion by leaning on minority-owned vendors at Detroit Golf Club and having a volunteer base that reflected the community.

Turns out that was just the start.

The tournament is launching “The John Shippen,” a four-day event in late June. It starts with a 36-hole tournament for the top Black golfers who can earn an exemption to the Rocket Mortgage Classic and to the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational on the LPGA Tour.

It concludes with a two-day sports business summit that offers paid internships and scholarships for students of color.

“Golf is a multi-billion dollar industry and it lacks diversity,” said Jason Longwell, executive director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “We’re building a platform, two events that show up on the intersection of diversity, inclusion and golf. We’re not only excited about that, we’re also excited to use the event to shine a light on the legacy and great untold story of John Shippen Jr.”

Shippen was the first Black to play in the U.S. Open in 1896 at Shinnecock Hills and the first American-born golf professional. Shippen, an assistant to Willie Dunn at Shinnecock, was encouraged to play in the second U.S. Open along with Oscar Bunn, a club caddie and member of the Shinnecock tribe.

English and Scottish players threatened to boycott if Shippen and Bunn were allowed to play until Theodore Havemeyer, the USGA president, said the championship would be played even if Shippen and Bunn were the only ones playing. Shippen was tied for the lead after the first day, only to make an 11 on the 13th hole to shoot 81. He tied for fifth, matching his best finish in his U.S. Open appearances.

Shippen later...