Player Profiles: Gary Player

Gary Player

A Grand Slam champion, the winner of nine Majors and nine senior Majors, tournament host Gary Player needs little introduction. One of the true legends of the game and one of the select band of golfers to have won more than 100 titles around the world; in fact, Player has won more than 160. He shares the distinction of being one of only five golfers to have won all four Major Championships (Grand Slam) with Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods.

Player, who turned professional in 1953, estimates he has subsequently travelled more than 14 million miles while competing in tournaments all over the world. He won for the first time in 1955 and has since won almost everywhere golf is played. In 1985 Player turned 50 and immediately won the first Seniors Tour event he entered.

He has subsequently won 20 times on the US Champions Tour and five times on the European Seniors Tour. He continues to impress as evidenced by his one-under-par 69 in the opening round of the 2006 Senior British Open Championship at Turnberry Resort, which bettered his age by one.

Player is the figurehead for a number of global companies under the Black Knight International banner, including Gary Player Design, the Gary Player Golf Academy and Gary Player Enterprises, which handle licensing, publishing, golf equipment, apparel and memorabilia. He is an acclaimed golf course architect and has completed over 200 design projects in several different countries. The Gary Player Stud Farm has received worldwide acclaim for breeding top racehorses.

The Gary Player Foundation, established to provide education for disadvantaged children in South Africa, has also been an outstanding success. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his contribution to the game of golf, including the 2000 European Seniors Tour’s Lladro Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001 Player was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as Global Ambassador.

Player’s other notable achievements include an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of St. Andrews (1995), the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for dedication to charity (2003) and the Payne Stewart Award from the PGA Tour in recognition of philanthropic achievements and the exemplary manner in which he has conducted himself on and off the golf course, which he received in 2006.

In December 2003 Player was also awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold) by President Mbeki of South Africa for excellence in golf and his contribution to non-racial sport in South Africa.

Player captained the Rest of the World Team at the UBS Cup matches in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and the International Team in the 2003 and 2007 Presidents Cup.