Charlie Sifford, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November, suffered a stroke and is hospitalized in stable condition, according to a broadcast report.
The Golf Channel on Monday night said that Sifford, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004, is also battling a bacterial infection at a Cleveland hospital.
The 92-year-old golf pioneer played a crucial role in getting the PGA of America to rescind its Caucasians-only clause in 1961 and became the first African-American to earn what is now called a PGA Tour card. He won twice after that at the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, although most of his prime golfing years came prior to be allowed to play on the PGA Tour.
Besides Sifford, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are the only other golfers to earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom, considered to be the United States' highest civilian honor.