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 ...

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.

His son, Jim Dent Jr., now is the head pro at The Patch. Augusta National is pouring support into upgrading the municipal course under the work of architects Tom Fazio and Beau Welling.

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) ...

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.” He went on to become one of the ...