Cameron Champ of Sacramento has received the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption for the 2018 Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, it was announced by tournament host Tiger Woods.
The exemption, which has been awarded by the Los Angeles-area tournament since 2009 and was named for Sifford last year, represents the advancement of diversity in golf.
Champ, who won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur and finished second in the Pacific Coast Amateur last year, will be in the field of 144 players for the Genesis Open, which will be played from Feb. 15-18.
“I am incredibly grateful and humbled to receive the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption for the 2018 Genesis Open,” said the 22-year-old Champ, who played college golf at Texas A&M. “This means a lot to me, as well as my entire family.
“Mr. Sifford’s legacy has had a huge influence not only on why I play the game of golf, but also how I seek to use the game as a vehicle for positive change, the celebration of diversity and to make a difference in our communities—all examples that were unquestionably set by Charlie Sifford. It gives me great pride to play in his name at Riviera this year.”
Champ turned pro shortly after tying for 32nd in the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills. He was a finalist for the 2017 Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year Award and rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Rankings last year.
In addition, he helped the United States win the 46th Walker Cup last September at Los Angeles.
“I am excited to have Cameron in the field for the Genesis Open,” said Woods, who played in his first pro event in the 1992 tournament at Riviera. “On the course, Cameron has all the tools to compete at Riviera, and off the course his commitment to grow the game is inspiring.
“I know Charlie would be proud to have Cameron play in the Genesis Open in his honor.”
Sifford, who died in 2015 at the age of 92, was the first African-American golfer to compete on the PGA Tour. He captured the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, which now is the Genesis Open.
Previous recipients of the exemption include Vincent Johnson (2009), Joshua Wooding (2010), Joseph Bramlett (2011), Andy Walker (2012), Jeremiah Wooding (2013), Harold Varner III (2014), Carlos Sainz Jr. (2015), J.J. Spaun (2016) and Kevin M. Hall (2017).
