Jim Dent watches his ball from the 18th tee Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, during the first round of the GTE Classic at The Tournament Players Club in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/SCOTT MARTIN By The Associated ...

Jim Dent, who learned the game as a caddie and became one of the best Black golfers of his era, died on May 2, according to his family. He was 85.

Jim Dent watches his tee shot on the 15th hole on the second day of the Administaff Small Business Classic, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, at Augusta Pines Golf Club in Spring, Texas.

Jim Dent grew up in the caddie yards of Augusta, Georgia, eventually working at the Masters and honing his game at the municipal course known as “The Patch.” ...

FILE - Jim Dent watches his ball from the 18th tee Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, during the first round of the GTE Classic at The Tournament Players Club in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Martin, File) ...