Masters of the Greens

The painting “Masters of the Greens” captures the historical significance of caddies at the Masters Golf Tournament. It portrays two young boys dressed in the tournament’s caddy uniforms, marked with numbers 34 and 82. This deliberate choice reflects the era from 1934 to 1982 when all caddies were African-Americans due to the tournament founder’s exclusionary stance against African-American players.

While initially limited to caddying, these individuals sought the chance to play golf, yet were denied the opportunity. Despite their intimate knowledge of the course, which often contributed to golfers’ wins through their understanding of the greens, they were relegated solely to the role of caddies. The number 75 on the golf bag signifies the breakthrough moment in 1975 when Lee Elder became the first African-American to play at the Masters, a milestone represented by his scorecard in the background of the painting.

The painting also includes subtle references to significant figures in golf history. The young boys’ golf clubs feature a tiger cover with the number one, symbolizing Tiger Woods, the first African-American to win the Masters. Notably, changes in tournament rules in 1983 allowed golfers to bring their own caddies, leading to the absence of African-American caddies at the Masters today. However, this shift enabled caddies to earn substantial incomes, ranging from six to seven figures.

Title: Masters of the Greens
Artist: Richard D. Wilson, Jr.
Type Of Art: Limited Edition Print
Year Published: 2022
Dimensions: Mini print 7×7 (image size) 8×8 (paper size)
Dimensions: Limited Edition 18×18 (image size) 19×19 (paper size)
Dimensions: Special Edition 24×24 (image size) 25×25 (paper size)
Dimensions: Artist Proof Edition & Artist Proof With Remarque Edition 32×32 (image size) 33×33 (paper size)
Media: Giclee Print
Paper: Museum quality, heavy weight, acid-free, watercolor-textured paper, printed with archival inks.
Signed & Numbered: Yes
Certificate Of Authenticity: Yes

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