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Jim Dent
James Lacey Dent (May 9, 1939 – May 2, 2025) was an American professional golfer. Dent, who was nicknamed "Big Boy" because of his size and long drives, played professionally for more than 40 years on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. During his PGA Tour career, he won four unofficial tournaments and approximately a half-million dollars. In 1974 and 1975, Dent won the first two World Long Drive Championships. On the PGA Champions Tour, he won 12 tournaments and more than $9 million. In recognition of his career accomplishments, Dent was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and National Black Golf Hall of Fame, among others.
Dent was born in Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters Tournament. He was the fourth of six children to Carrie and Tom Dent, who owned farmland near the Augusta Country Club. His mother died when he was six, and his father died when he was 12 years old. After his parents’ death, he was raised by his aunt, Mary Benton, a housekeeper, who inherited four of the Dent children. The family lived in Sand Hills, a predominantly black neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a teenager, he would play golf with friends on The Hill, a modest Augusta course. Following in his older brother Paul's footsteps, he got his first job working as a caddie at the Augusta National Golf Club. Paul Dent would later caddie for President Dwight Eisenhower.
At the age of 15, Dent caddied in his first Masters, carrying the bags for Bob Rosburg in the 1956 tournament. In addition to Rosburg, he caddied for Masters' golfers Bob Goalby, Walker Inman, and Frank Stranahan. When he was 17, he bought his first set of clubs for $30 from Henry Avery, who worked at Augusta Country Club.
Dent attended Laney High School and played on the football team with future NFL player Emerson Boozer.
In 1959, Dent won a football scholarship and played end at Paine College, a HBCU in Augusta. Dent dropped out of college after a year to pursue a golf career.
Dent began his career in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area, working as a busboy and waiter at the Smithfield Inn, and practicing and playing golf at night. In 1961, he returned to Augusta to caddie for Patty Berg at the Titleholders Championship, that was an LPGA major; Berg finished second in the tournament.
In his 20s, Dent began entering local golf tournaments. He eventually moved to California, where he met Mose "Mo" Stevens, a wealthy black businessman who became his benefactor. Stevens would pay for Dent's daily practice sessions and sponsored him on the professional golf tour.
In 1966, Dent turned professional. He played on a minor league golf circuit and in events hosted by the United Golfers Association, a tour that attracted the top black golfers of that era. In 1969, Dent won the National Negro Open and other tournaments, including the $100,000 Queen Mary event.
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Jim Dent
James Lacey Dent (May 9, 1939 – May 2, 2025) was an American professional golfer. Dent, who was nicknamed "Big Boy" because of his size and long drives, played professionally for more than 40 years on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. During his PGA Tour career, he won four unofficial tournaments and approximately a half-million dollars. In 1974 and 1975, Dent won the first two World Long Drive Championships. On the PGA Champions Tour, he won 12 tournaments and more than $9 million. In recognition of his career accomplishments, Dent was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and National Black Golf Hall of Fame, among others.
Dent was born in Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters Tournament. He was the fourth of six children to Carrie and Tom Dent, who owned farmland near the Augusta Country Club. His mother died when he was six, and his father died when he was 12 years old. After his parents’ death, he was raised by his aunt, Mary Benton, a housekeeper, who inherited four of the Dent children. The family lived in Sand Hills, a predominantly black neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a teenager, he would play golf with friends on The Hill, a modest Augusta course. Following in his older brother Paul's footsteps, he got his first job working as a caddie at the Augusta National Golf Club. Paul Dent would later caddie for President Dwight Eisenhower.
At the age of 15, Dent caddied in his first Masters, carrying the bags for Bob Rosburg in the 1956 tournament. In addition to Rosburg, he caddied for Masters' golfers Bob Goalby, Walker Inman, and Frank Stranahan. When he was 17, he bought his first set of clubs for $30 from Henry Avery, who worked at Augusta Country Club.
Dent attended Laney High School and played on the football team with future NFL player Emerson Boozer.
In 1959, Dent won a football scholarship and played end at Paine College, a HBCU in Augusta. Dent dropped out of college after a year to pursue a golf career.
Dent began his career in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area, working as a busboy and waiter at the Smithfield Inn, and practicing and playing golf at night. In 1961, he returned to Augusta to caddie for Patty Berg at the Titleholders Championship, that was an LPGA major; Berg finished second in the tournament.
In his 20s, Dent began entering local golf tournaments. He eventually moved to California, where he met Mose "Mo" Stevens, a wealthy black businessman who became his benefactor. Stevens would pay for Dent's daily practice sessions and sponsored him on the professional golf tour.
In 1966, Dent turned professional. He played on a minor league golf circuit and in events hosted by the United Golfers Association, a tour that attracted the top black golfers of that era. In 1969, Dent won the National Negro Open and other tournaments, including the $100,000 Queen Mary event.