Peete, 12-time PGA Tour winner, dies at 71

Calvin Peete, the most decorated African-American golfer in PGA Tour history before Tiger Woods’ career began, has died. He was 71.

Peete won 12 times on the PGA Tour between 1979-86, highlighted by a victory at the 1985 Players Championship. He captured a career-best four victories in 1982.

One of the most accurate ball-strikers of his era, Peete led the PGA Tour in driving accuracy for 10 consecutive years from 1981-90. He won the Vardon Trophy in 1984, awarded annually to the Tour’s overall scoring leader, and compiled a 4-2-1 individual record in two Ryder Cup appearances, 1983 and 1985.

Born in Detroit in 1943, Peete did not begin playing golf until his early 20s. Despite a childhood…