Gary Player

Background and family

Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the youngest of Muriel and Harry Player's three children. At age 17, he became a professional golfer.

Player married wife Vivienne Verwey (sister of professional golfer Bobby Verwey) on 19 January 1957, four years after turning professional. Together they had six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, and Amanda. He also has 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. During the early days of his career, Player would travel from tournament to tournament with his wife, six children, their nanny and a tutor in tow. Vivienne died of cancer in August 2021.

Player's eldest son, Marc, 100% owns and operates The Player Group, including all trademarks and intellectual property. The PLAYER Group exclusively represents Player in all his commercial activities, including all endorsements, licensing, merchandising, golf course design, and real estate development. In 2020, Player won a legal battle against the Gary Player Group. Gary Player was awarded $5 million and the rights to his name and likeness back from the company. Today, the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation operates in South Africa and the United States.

Player is the brother of Ian Player, a South African environmental educator, activist and conservationist.

Playing career

Player is one of the most successful golfers in history, tied for fourth in major championship victories with nine. Along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus he is often referred to as one of "The Big Three" golfers of the mid-1960's. From the late 1950s through the late 1970s golf boomed in the United States and around the world and was greatly encouraged by expanded television coverage. Along with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, he is one of only six players to win golf's "career Grand Slam". He completed the Grand Slam in 1965 at the age of 29. At the time, he was the youngest player to do this, though Jack Nicklaus (26) and Tiger Woods (24) subsequently broke this record. Player was the second multiple majors winner from South Africa, following Bobby Locke, then was followed by Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen.

Player competed regularly on the U.S. based PGA Tour from the late 1950s. He led the Tour money list in 1961, and went on to accumulate 24 career Tour titles. He also played an exceptionally busy schedule all over the world, and he has been called the world's most traveled athlete. Player has logged more than 26 e6km in air travel – in 2005 it was estimated that he had "probably flown further… than any athlete in history".

Player has more victories than anyone else in the South African Open (13) and the Australian Open (7). He held the record for most victories in the World Match Play Championship, with five wins, from 1973 until 1991 when this feat was equalled by Seve Ballesteros, finally losing his share of the record in 2004, when Ernie Els won the event for the sixth time. Player was in the top ten of Mark McCormack's world golf rankings from their inception in 1968 until 1981; he was ranked second in 1969, 1970 and 1972, each time to Jack Nicklaus.

Player was the only player in the 20th century to win the British Open in three different decades. His first win, as a 23-year-old in 1959 at Muirfield, came after he double-bogeyed the last hole. In 1974, he became one of the few golfers in history to win two major championships in the same season. Player last won the Masters in 1978, when he started seven strokes behind 54-hole leader Hubert Green entering the final round, and won by one shot with birdies at seven of the last 10 holes for a back nine 30 and a final round 64. One week later, Player again came from seven strokes back in the final round to win the Tournament of Champions. In 1984, at the age of 48 Player nearly became the oldest ever major champion, finishing in second place behind Lee Trevino at the PGA Championship. And in gusty winds at the 1998 Masters, he became the oldest golfer ever to make the cut, breaking the 25-year-old record set by Sam Snead. Player credited this feat to his dedication to the concept of diet, health, practice and golf fitness.

Player has occasionally been accused of cheating, particularly in the 1974 Open; he has strongly denied the accusations. Later, at a skins game in Arizona in 1983, Tom Watson accused him of cheating by moving a leaf from behind his ball.

Being South African, Player never played in the Ryder Cup in which American and European golfers compete against each other. Regarding the event, Player remarked, "The things I have seen in the Ryder Cup have disappointed me. You are hearing about hatred and war." He was no longer an eligible player when the Presidents Cup was established to give international players the opportunity to compete in a similar event, but he was non-playing captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup in 2003, which was held on a course he designed, The Links at Fancourt, in George, South Africa. After 2003 ended in a tie, he was reappointed as captain for the 2005 Presidents Cup, and his team lost to the Americans 15.5 to 18.5. Both Player and Jack Nicklaus were appointed to captain their respective teams again in 2007 in Canada; the United States won.

Augusta National green jacket

The green jacket is reserved for Augusta National members and golfers who win the Masters Tournament. Jackets are kept on club grounds, and taking them off the premises is forbidden. The exception is for the winner, who can take it home and return it to the club the following year. Player, who became the tournament's first international winner in 1961, said he did not know that. After losing a playoff in 1962 to Arnold Palmer, he packed the jacket and took it to his home in South Africa. That led to a call from club Chairman Clifford Roberts, who was a stickler for rules. "I didn't know you were supposed to leave it there," Player said. "Next thing you know, there was a call from Mr. Roberts."

Legacy

In 2000, Player was voted "Sportsman of the Century" in South Africa. In 1966, he was awarded the Bob Jones Award, the highest honour given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. The "Gary Player – A Global Journey" exhibition was launched by the Hall of Fame as of March 2006.

In 2000, Golf Digest magazine ranked Player as the eighth greatest golfer of all time.

In 2002, Player was voted as the second greatest global golfer of all time by a panel of international media, golf magazines and fellow professionals conducted by the leading Golf Asia Magazine.

On 10 April 2009, he played for the last time in the Masters, where he was playing for his record 52nd time – every year since 1957 except for 1973, when he was recovering from surgery. After Nicklaus and Palmer, he was the last of the Big Three to retire from this tournament, which is a testament to his longevity.

At age 73 on 23 July 2009, Player competed in the Senior British Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club, 53 years after capturing his maiden European Tour victory at the Berkshire venue.

Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters announced on 5 July 2011 that Player had been invited to join Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter. The Big Three were reunited in this capacity starting with the 2012 tournament.

In July 2013, Player became the oldest athlete ever to pose nude in ESPN The Magazines annual Body Issue to inspire people to keep looking after themselves throughout their lives whatever their age.

Views

Views on apartheid

In 1966, Player espoused support for the apartheid policies of Hendrik Verwoerd in his book Grand Slam Golf, stating: "I must say now, and clearly, that I am of the South Africa of Verwoerd and apartheid... a nation which... is the product of its instinct and ability to maintain civilised values and standards amongst the alien barbarians. The African may well believe in witchcraft and primitive magic, practise ritual murder and polygamy; his wealth is in cattle". Activists publicly demonstrated against Player's espousal of apartheid, including protesting against Player at the 1969 PGA Championship. Australian activists also strongly protested against Player. In 1971 there were several threats to protest against Player at tournaments though they never came to fruition. Years later, in October 1974, Australian activists screamed at Player, "Go home, racist!", as he was lining up a putt on the 72nd hole in a tournament he had a chance to win.

However, in a 1987 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Player disavowed the system of apartheid, stating, "We have a terrible system in apartheid... it's almost a cancerous disease. I'm happy to say it's being eliminated. [...] We've got to get rid of this apartheid." In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Player discussed his early support for apartheid stating that the South African Government had "pulled the wool over our eyes" and that the people were "brainwashed" into supporting these policies.

Views on golf

In July 2007, Player made statements at the Open Championship golf tournament about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in golf. He alleged that at least ten players were "taking something", citing human growth hormone, steroids and creatine as possible substances. Both the PGA Tour and European Tour were in the process of introducing random testing programmes at the time.

In June 2016, in an interview with bunkered.co.uk, Player branded as "laughable" a report released by the R&A and USGA governing bodies which said that driving distance in golf was only increasing minimally. He warned of a "tsunami coming" due to the governing bodies' failure to address issues surrounding new golf technology. After the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Player reiterated these comments, taking to messaging service Twitter to say he was sad to see the Old Course at St Andrews "brought to her knees" after Ross Fisher broke the course record on a day of very low scoring during the final round.

Distinctions and honours

• On 8 June 1961, Player was the guest on NBC's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. In a comedy skit, he gives Tennessee Ernie Ford a golf lesson.
• Received the 1965 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award.
• Received the 1966 Bob Jones Award from the United States Golf Association.
• Named Honorary Member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1994.
• Received Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from University of St Andrews in 1995.
• Received Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland in 1997
• The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational trophy is named the Gary Player Cup.
• Named Honorary Member of Carnoustie in 1999
• Received Honorary Doctorate in Law, University of Dundee, Scotland in 1999
• South African Sportsman of the Century award in 2000
• Received the 2003 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monte Carlo.
• Awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold for exceptional achievement) in 2003 by President Mbeki of South Africa for excellence in golf and contribution to non-racial sport in South Africa.
• He was the world's first golfer to be featured on any country's postal stamp in South Africa.
• Has designed over 400 golf courses on six continents around the world.
• He received the 2006 Payne Stewart Award from the PGA Tour.
• Played in his 52nd Masters Tournament at Augusta National in April 2009, extending his record of for most Masters appearances
• Inducted into the African American Sports Hall of Fame in May 2007, with Lifetime Achievement Award
• Has played in a record 46 consecutive British Open Championships, winning 3 times over 3 decades.
• Stars with Camilo Villegas in a MasterCard "priceless foursome" television commercial launched during the U.S. Open in June 2009
• In November 2009 he was awarded the inaugural Breeders Cup "Sports and Racing Excellence Award" at Santa Anita Park in California which honours owners and breeders of thoroughbred race horses.
• Was inducted into the Asian Pacific Golf Hall of Fame with Jack Nicklaus in 2011 at a ceremony in Pattaya, Thailand.
• In December 2011, Gary Player Design was selected amongst the finalists to design the golf course for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
• He received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award at The Players Championship in May 2012. The first international person to receive this accolade.
• Received the 2020 GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 7 January 2021 from then President Donald Trump.
• With the death of Jack Burke Jr., Player becomes the oldest living Masters champion.

Professional wins (159)

PGA Tour wins (24)

PGA Tour playoff record (3–10)

European Tour wins (4)

European Tour playoff record (0–2)

Southern Africa Tour wins (20)

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (2–0)

PGA Tour of Australia wins (2)

PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–1)

Safari Circuit wins (1)

South American Golf Circuit wins (1)

Other European wins (10)

Sources:

Japan wins (2)

Other South African wins (39)

• 1955 East Rand Open
• 1956 East Rand Open, South African Open
• 1957 Western Province Open
• 1958 Natal Open
• 1959 East Rand Open, Natal Open, South African Professional Match Play Championship, Transvaal Open
• 1960 Natal Open, South African Masters, Transvaal Open, Western Province Open, South African Open
• 1961 Transvaal Open (Dec.)
• 1962 Transvaal Open
• 1963 Liquid Air Tournament, Richelieu Grand Prix (Cape Town), Richelieu Grand Prix (Johannesburg), Sponsored 5000
• 1964 South African Masters
• 1965 South African Open
• 1966 Natal Open, Transvaal Open, South African Open
• 1967 South African Masters, South African Open
• 1968 Natal Open, Western Province Open, South African Open
• 1969 South African PGA Championship, South African Open
• 1971 General Motors Open, South African Masters, Western Province Open
• 1974 Rand International Open
• 1986 Nissan Skins Game
• 1988 Nissan Skins Game
• 1991 Nissan Skins Game

Other Australasian wins (17)

Sources:

Other South American wins (2)

Other wins (11)

• 1955 Egyptian Matchplay
• 1965 World Series of Golf, NTL Challenge Cup (Canada), World Cup of Golf, World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy
• 1968 World Series of Golf
• 1972 World Series of Golf
• 1977 World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy
• 1979 PGA Grand Slam of Golf (shared title with Andy North)
• 1983 Skins Game
• 1986 Fred Meyer Challenge (with Greg Norman - team shared title with Peter Jacobsen and Curtis Strange)

Senior PGA Tour wins (22)

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (5–2)

European Seniors Tour wins (3)

European Seniors Tour playoff record (1–0)

Other senior wins (6)

• 1987 Northville Invitational (United States), German PGA Team Championship
• 1997 Dai-ichi Seimei Cup (Japan)
• 2000 Senior Skins Game (U.S. – unofficial event)
• 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Bob Charles)
• 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Bob Charles)

*The Senior British Open was retroactively recognised by the PGA Tour Champions as a senior major in 2018.

Major championships

Wins (9)

1Defeated Nagle in 18-hole playoff; Player 71 (+1), Nagle 74 (+4).

Results timeline

CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1970, 1980, 1981 and 1985 Open Championships)

WD = withdrew

"T" = indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 37 (1970 PGA – 1980 Masters)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 6 (1962 PGA – 1964 Masters)

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Senior major championships

Wins (9)

1Defeated Charles in 18-hole playoff; Player (68), Charles (70).

2Defeated Bland with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Results timeline

1The Senior Open Championship was not a Champions Tour major until 2003, though it was on the European Seniors Tour. Player won the event three times prior to this recognition.

CUT = Missed the half-way cut

NYF = Tournament not yet founded

"T" = tied

Team appearances

• World Cup (representing South Africa): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 (winners, individual winner), 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977 (individual winner)
• Slazenger Trophy (representing British Commonwealth and Empire): 1956
• Chrysler Cup (representing the International team): 1986 (captain), 1987 (captain, winners), 1988 (captain), 1989 (captain), 1990 (captain), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 (winners)
• Dunhill Cup (representing South Africa): 1991
• Alfred Dunhill Challenge (representing Southern Africa): 1995 (non-playing captain, winners)
• UBS Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 2001 (captain), 2002 (captain), 2004 (captain)
• Insperity Invitational – Greats of Golf: 2012 (winners), 2014 (winners), 2015 (winners), 2017 (winners)

Notes

References

References

1. Auclair, T.J.. (12 August 2018). "15 Greatest Golfers of All Time". [[PGA of America]].
2. "Gary Player PGA Tour Profile". PGA Tour.
3. "Player, Gary". World Golf Hall of Fame.
4. (21 November 2018). "PGA Tour Champions recognizes Gary Player's Senior British Open wins as major titles".
5. Kim, Jae-Ha. (2 October 2013). "Go Away With Gary Player". Chicago Tribune.
6. "PGA Tour Media Guide – Gary Player". PGA Tour.
7. Sangani, Priyanka. (27 September 2013). "Remain positive and confident to perform under pressure: Gary Player". The Economic Times.
8. "Gary Player Invitational". garyplayerinvitational.com.
9. (18 July 2007). "Golf legend Player in drugs claim". BBC News.
10. (23 January 2018). "Gary Player - A Winner on the Golf Course, and in Love".
11. Lambley, Garrin. (18 August 2021). "Gary Player's wife dies". The South African.
12. Roberts, Daniel. (30 June 2014). "Cowboy on the Green".
13. https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/29287618/golfer-gary-player-gets-5-million-legal-dispute-son-marc
14. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/pga/2025/10/28/gary-player-turning-90-hall-of-fame-golfer/86711542007/
15. "About Ian Player". Ian Player Official Web Site.
16. (1 November 2016). "Been, seen and conquered - Gary Player at 81".
17. Morgan, Brad. "Golf: Gary Player". SouthAfrica.info.
18. "Golf: Gary Player". SouthAfrica.info.
19. "1959 Gary Player". The Open.
20. (17 April 1978). "Incredible comeback". Star-News.
21. Hill, Susan: "Fit For Golf", page 34. Resort Living
22. (16 July 1996). "Golf: The paradox that is Gary Player". The Independent.
23. (2007). "The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations". Skyhorse Publishing.
24. Boyette, John. (9 April 2017). "Masters Traditions: Green Jackets". The Augusta Chronicle.
25. Yocom, Guy. (July 2000). "50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us". [[Golf Digest]].
26. "Who Played the Most Masters Tournaments?". golf.about.com.
27. (28 March 2007). "The Masters: Gary Player's 50th appearance". PGA Tour.
28. "Gary Player takes a trip down memory lane at Sunningdale".
29. "Player to Join Palmer, Nicklaus as Honorary Starter at 2012 Masters".
30. (9 July 2013). "Golf: Gary Player nude". ESPN.
31. (9 July 2013). "The first photos from ESPN the Magazine's 'Body Issue' are here". USA Today.
32. Vice, Telford. (December 2015). "They don't really care about us".
33. (4 November 1971). "Trouble threat". The Canberra Times.
34. (28 October 1974). "Ball again wins Masters". Glasgow Herald.
35. (24 April 1987). "Gary Player Gives His Views on Apartheid". Los Angeles Times.
36. Graham Bensinger. (9 August 2017). "Gary Player: I helped break apartheid in sport".
37. Slot, Owen. (19 July 2007). "Carnoustie is rocked by doping allegations". The Times.
38. Inglis, Martin. (9 June 2016). "Gary Player brands R&A report 'laughable'".
39. Inglis, Martin. (9 October 2017). "Gary Player: Old Course 'brought to her knees'".
40. "''The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford''". ernieford.com.
41. "50th Sports Personality of the Year". BBC.
42. (5 November 2019). "Gary Player to receive 2020 Old Tom Morris Award from GCSAA".
43. (7 January 2021). "Trump honors golfing greats with award in private ceremony". Associated Press.
44. (5 May 1956). "Player beat tournament record by seven". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
45. Jacobs, Raymond. (18 October 1965). "Distinctive end to season". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
46. Jacobs, Raymond. (10 October 1966). "Player again wins Piccadilly match-play event". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
47. Jacobs, Raymond. (14 October 1968). "Player's one-hole victory against Charles". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
48. Jacobs, Raymond. (11 October 1971). "Player again shows he is master of match-play". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
49. Jacobs, Raymond. (15 October 1973). "Player unyielding at match-play". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
50. (9 November 1974). "Gary Player takes Spanish golf test". [[York Daily Record]].
51. Jacobs, Raymond. (11 November 1974). "Player beats Townsend in play-off". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
52. (13 October 1975). "Player finishes well clear of field". The Times.
53. (22 October 1984). "South Africa's Gary Player". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
54. "Nashua Masters Information Sheet". supersport.co.za.
55. (25 December 1961). "Transvaal title To Player". The Straits Times.
56. (19 February 1968). "Player's victory in Cape Town". The Glasgow Herald.
57. (1 February 1971). "Player 20 under for 72 holes". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
58. (20 September 1956). "W.A. Open to Gary Player". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
59. (8 October 1956). "Player, Berwick Share Purse". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
60. (19 November 1956). "Stars made it so easy for Gary". [[The Argus (Melbourne).
61. (14 October 1957). "Close Golf Victory to Player". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
62. (4 November 1957). "Gary Player Wins Ampol". [[The Canberra Times]].
63. (22 November 1957). "South African Defeats Peter Thomson". [[The Canberra Times]].
64. (31 August 1958). "Open record to Player". The Sun-Herald.
65. (9 November 1959). "Record Round To Player". [[The Canberra Times]].
66. (16 November 1959). "Nagle, Player in Ampol Golf Tie". [[The Canberra Times]].
67. (29 October 1961). "Player's triumph - Tragic shot fatal for Cremin". [[The Sun-Herald]].
68. Lawrence, Don. (5 November 1962). "Player says victory one of his greatest". The Age.
69. (3 November 1963). "Easy win for Player". The Sun-Herald.
70. Lawrence, Don. (1 November 1965). "Gary Player misses one record he didn't know about". The Age.
71. (11 November 1968). "Gary Player wins play-off". [[The Canberra Times]].
72. (27 October 1969). "Australian title for Player". The Glasgow Herald.
73. Thomson, Peter. (26 October 1970). "An incredible win, despite a last round 74". The Age.
74. Hourigan, John. (2 November 1970). "Player takes one-stroke victory". [[The Canberra Times]].
75. Herrington, Ryan. (21 December 2018). "How well do you remember what happened in golf in 2018? Take our quiz".