Gary Player

Gary Player
Player in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Gary Player
Nickname	The Black Knight, Mr. Fitness, International Ambassador of Golf
Born	(1935-11-01) 1 November 1935 Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg; 11 st)
Nationality	South Africa
Residence	Jupiter Island, Florida, U.S. Colesberg, South Africa
Spouse	Vivienne Verwey (m. 1957–present)
Children	Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, Amanda
Career
Turned professional	1953
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour (joined 1957) Champions Tour (joined 1985)
Professional wins	165
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	24 (25th all time)
Sunshine Tour	63 (1st all time)
PGA Tour of Australasia	18
PGA Tour Champions	19
European Senior Tour	3
Other	28 (regular) 10 (senior)
Best results in major championships (wins: 9)
Masters Tournament	Won: 1961, 1974, 1978
U.S. Open	Won: 1965
The Open Championship	Won: 1959, 1968, 1974
PGA Championship	Won: 1962, 1972
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	1974 (member page)
PGA Tour leading money winner	1961
Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit winner	1976/77, 1979/80
PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award	2012
(For a full list of awards, see here)

Gary Player DMS, OIG (born 1 November 1935) is a South African professional golfer widely considered one of the greatest golfers ever. ^[1] Over his career, Player accumulated nine major championships on the regular tour and six Champions Tour major championship victories, as well as three Senior British Open Championships on the European Senior Tour. At the age of 29, Player won the 1965 U.S. Open and became the only non-American to win all four majors, known as the career Grand Slam. Player became only the third golfer in history to win the Career Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen, and only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have performed the feat since. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six decades and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.^[2]

Nicknamed the Black Knight, Mr. Fitness, and the International Ambassador of Golf,^[3] Player is also a renowned golf course architect with more than 325 design projects on five continents throughout the world. He has also authored or co-written 36 golf books.

His business interests are represented by Black Knight International, which includes Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, The Player Foundation, Gary Player Academies, and Black Knight Enterprises, aspects of which include licensing, events, publishing, wine, apparel and memorabilia.^[4]

The Gary Player Stud Farm breeds thoroughbred race horses, including 1994 Epsom Derby entry Broadway Flyer.

He operates The Player Foundation, which has a primary objective of promoting underprivileged education around the world. In 1983, The Player Foundation established the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has educational facilities for more than 500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2013 it celebrated its 30th Anniversary with charity golf events in London, Palm Beach, Shanghai and Cape Town, bringing its total of funds raised to over US$60 million.^[4][5]

Background and family

Gary Player with wife (right) and her mother, who were his dedicated supporters at golf tournaments

Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the youngest of Harry and Muriel Player's three children. When he was eight years old his mother died from cancer. Although his father was often away from home working in the gold mines, he did manage to take a loan in order to buy a set of clubs for his son Gary to begin playing golf. The Virginia Park golf course in Johannesburg is where Player first began his love affair with golf. At the age of 14, Player played his first round of golf and parred the first three holes. At age 16, he announced that he would become number one in the world. 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 have six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa and Amanda. He is also a grandfather to 21 grandchildren.^[6] During the early days of his career Player would travel from tournament to tournament with wife, six children, nanny and a tutor in tow.

His eldest son, Marc Player, owns and operates Black Knight International, which exclusively represents Player in all his commercial activities, including all endorsements, licensing, merchandising, golf course design, and real estate development.^[7]

Gary Player is the brother of Ian Player, a notable South African environmental educator and conservationist who saved the white rhino from extinction.^[8]

Player is a supporter of Arsenal and Scottish football club Rangers F.C.^[9]

Regular PGA Tour career

Player is one of the most successful golfers in the history of the sport, ranking third (behind Roberto de Vicenzo and Sam Snead) in total professional wins, with at least 164, and 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 his era – from the late 1950s through the late 1970s – when golf boomed in the United States and around the world, greatly encouraged by expanded television coverage. Along with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods, he is one of only five players to win golf’s "career Grand Slam". He completed the Grand Slam in 1965 at the age of twenty-nine. Player was the second multiple majors winner from South Africa, following Bobby Locke, then was followed by Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen.

Player played 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 million km (16 million mi) in air travel – in 2005 it was estimated that he had "probably flown further…than any athlete in history".^[10][11]

He 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 a 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.

He was the only player in the 20th century to win the British Open in three different decades.^[12] His first win, as a 23-year-old in 1959 at Muirfield, came after he double-bogeyed the last hole.^[13] In 1974, he became one of the few golfers in history to win two major championships in the same season. Player last won the U.S. 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.^[14] 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.^[15]

Player in 2008

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."^[16] 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.

Legacy

In 2000 he was voted "Sportsman of the Century" in South Africa. In 1966, Gary Player 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, Player was ranked as the eighth greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine.^[17]

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^[18] – every year since 1957 except for 1973, when he was recovering from surgery.^[19] After Nicklaus and Palmer, he was the last of the Big Three to retire from this tournament, a testament to his longevity.

On 23 July 2009, at the age of 73, 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.^[20]

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.^[21]

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

Golf course designing

Gary Player and Gary Player Design have executed over 300 projects in 35 countries on five continents. The company offers three different design brands: Gary Player Design, Player Design, and Black Knight Design.

With golf accepted back into the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Gary Player Design was selected among the finalists of an official RFP in early December 2011.

The Player Foundation

The Player Foundation was established in 1983 and began as an effort to provide education, nutrition, medical care and athletic activities, for a small community of disadvantaged children living on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. The Player Foundation has since blossomed into an organisation that circles the globe bringing aid to underprivileged children and impoverished communities. Since its establishment,The Player Foundation has donated over $50 million to the support of children's charities, the betterment of impoverished communities and the expansion of educational opportunities throughout the world.

The Foundation is primarily funded by four Gary Player Invitational events presented through Black Knight International and staged in the United States, China, Europe and South Africa annually.^[22] The Gary Player Invitational is a pro-am tournament that pairs celebrities and professional golfers from the PGA and Champions Tours with businessmen and other local participants. The proceeds of these tournaments and other special events provide funding for an ever-expanding number of institutions around the world, including the Blair Atholl Schools in South Africa, the Pleasant City Elementary School in Palm Beach, the Masizame Children’s Shelter in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, and AIDS infected children in Baoshan, a drug-infested city located on the China-Burma border.

Proceeds from the Gary Player Invitational have also been donated to The Lord’s Taverners in the UK and the following organisations in South Africa; Wildlands Conservation Trust, Twilight Children, and Bana Development Centre.^[23][24]

Controversy

In 1966, he 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".^[25] However, in a 1987 interview with the LA 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." ^[26] 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.^[27]

In July 2007, a media controversy emerged over his statements at The Open Championship golf tournament about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in golf. He was the first golfer to call for mandatory drug testing on all tours around the world. Subsequently, the PGA Tour introduced a formal policy.

He has been a pioneer of diet, health and fitness although he upset the Atkins Diet organisation by disagreeing with their "all protein" approach.

He was branded a "traitor" by South African Nationalist Government supporters for inviting and bringing both black tennis pro Arthur Ashe and golfer Lee Elder to play in South Africa.

Player has hosted the Nelson Mandela Invitational golf tournament since 2000. In October 2007, further media controversy arose about his involvement in the 2002 design of a golf course in Burma. As a result of the political uprisings in Burma, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdrew from the fundraising golf tournament because of Player's unsubstantiated business links with the country. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted Player's position and statements on Burma.^[28] Player refused to withdraw as he personally built the golf event from scratch and issued a statement rebutting these claims via his website. The event is now annually staged at the Fancourt Resort as the Gary Player Invitational.

In June 2016, in an interview with bunkered.co.uk, Player branded as 'laughable' a report released by The R&A and USGA which said that driving distance in golf was only increasing minimally. He warned of a 'tsunami coming' due the governing bodies' failure to address issues surrounding new golf technology.^[29] After the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Player reiterated these comments, taking to 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.^[30]

Player has occasionally been accused of cheating, particularly in the 1974 Open, an allegation that Player has strongly denied. Later, at a skins game in Arizona in 1983, Tom Watson accused him of cheating by moving a growing leaf from behind his ball.^[31]

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.^[32]
• Received the 1966 Bob Jones Award from the United States Golf Association.
• Named Honorary Member of the R&A 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 325 golf courses on six continents around the world.
• He currently plays on the U.S. Champions Tour and European Seniors Tour occasionally.
• 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.

Professional wins (165)

PGA Tour wins (24)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	20 Apr 1958	Kentucky Derby Open	−14 (68-68-69-69=274)	3 strokes	Chick Harbert, Ernie Vossler
2	3 Jul 1959	The Open Championship	−4 (75-71-70-68=284)	2 strokes	Fred Bullock, Flory Van Donck
3	29 Jan 1961	Lucky International Open	−12 (70-69-68-65=272)	2 strokes	George Bayer, Don Whitt
4	26 Mar 1961	Sunshine Open Invitational	−15 (69-68-67-69=273)	1 stroke	Arnold Palmer
5	10 Apr 1961	Masters Tournament	−8 (69-68-69-74=280)	1 stroke	Charles Coe, Arnold Palmer
6	22 Jul 1962	PGA Championship	−2 (72-67-69-70=278)	1 stroke	Bob Goalby
7	13 Jan 1963	San Diego Open Invitational	−14 (65-65-70-70=270)	1 stroke	Tony Lema
8	9 Mar 1964	Pensacola Open	−14 (71-68-66-69=274)	Playoff	Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer
9	31 May 1964	500 Festival Open Invitation	−11 (70-66-70-67=273)	1 stroke	Doug Sanders, Art Wall, Jr.
10	21 Jun 1965	U.S. Open	+2 (70-70-71-71=282)	Playoff	Kel Nagle
11	13 Jul 1968	The Open Championship	+1 (74-71-71-73=289)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus
12	20 Apr 1969	Tournament of Champions	−4 (69-74-69-72=284)	2 strokes	Lee Trevino
13	5 Apr 1970	Greater Greensboro Open	−13 (70-63-73-65=271)	2 strokes	Miller Barber
14	21 Mar 1971	Greater Jacksonville Open	−7 (70-70-72-69=281)	Playoff	Hal Underwood
15	28 Mar 1971	National Airlines Open Invitational	−14 (69-67-70-68=274)	2 strokes	Lee Trevino
16	26 Mar 1972	Greater New Orleans Open	−9 (73-69-68-69=279)	1 stroke	Dave Eichelberger, Jack Nicklaus
17	6 Aug 1972	PGA Championship	+1 (71-71-67-72=281)	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
18	9 Sep 1973	Southern Open	−10 (69-65-67-69=270)	1 stroke	Forrest Fezler
19	14 Apr 1974	Masters Tournament	−10 (71-71-66-70=278)	2 strokes	Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
20	26 May 1974	Danny Thomas Memphis Classic	−15 (65-72-69-67=273)	2 strokes	Lou Graham, Hubert Green
21	13 Jul 1974	The Open Championship	−2 (69-68-75-70=282)	4 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis
22	9 Apr 1978	Masters Tournament	−11 (72-72-69-64=277)	1 stroke	Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson
23	16 Apr 1978	MONY Tournament of Champions	−7 (70-68-76-67=281)	2 strokes	Andy North, Lee Trevino
24	23 Apr 1978	Houston Open	−18 (64-67-70-69=270)	1 stroke	Andy Bean

PGA Tour playoff record (3–10)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1958	Dallas Open Invitational	Julius Boros, John McMullin, Sam Snead	Snead won with birdie on first extra hole
2	1959	Memphis Open	Al Balding, Don Whitt	Whitt won with par on second extra hole Balding eliminated on first hole with birdie
3	1961	American Golf Classic	Jay Hebert	Lost to birdie on the second extra hole
4	1962	Masters Tournament	Dow Finsterwald, Arnold Palmer	Lost 18-hole playoff (Palmer:68, Player:71, Finsterwald:77)
5	1962	Memphis Open Invitational	Lionel Hebert, Gene Littler	Hebert won with birdie on first extra hole
6	1963	Palm Springs Golf Classic	Jack Nicklaus	Lost 18-hole playoff (Nicklaus:65, Player:73)
7	1964	Pensacola Open	Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer	Won 18-hole playoff (Player:71, Palmer:72, Barber:74)
8	1965	U.S. Open	Kel Nagle	Won 18-hole playoff (Player:71, Nagle:74)
9	1967	Oklahoma City Open Invitational	Miller Barber	Lost to birdie on third extra hole
10	1968	Azalea Open Invitational	Steve Reid	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
11	1971	Greater Jacksonville Open	Hal Underwood	Won with par on second extra hole
12	1971	Kemper Open	Dale Douglass, Lee Trevino, Tom Weiskopf	Weiskopf won with birdie on first extra hole
13	1975	MONY Tournament of Champions	Al Geiberger	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Major championships are shown in bold.

Champions Tour wins (19)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	23 Nov 1985	Quadel Seniors Classic	−11 (73-64-68=205)	3 strokes	Jim Ferree, Ken Still
2	16 Feb 1986	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−12 (68-68-73-72=281)	2 strokes	Lee Elder
3	18 May 1986	United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship	−4 (66-70-70=206)	1 stroke	Bob Charles, Lee Elder
4	1 Jun 1986	Denver Post Champions of Golf	−8 (70-67-71=208)	Playoff	Roberto DeVicenzo
5	14 Jun 1987	Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship	−8 (69-73-69-69=280)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton, Chi-Chi Rodríguez
6	12 Jul 1987	U.S. Senior Open	−14 (69-68-67-66=270)	6 strokes	Doug Sanders
7	13 Sep 1987	PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational	−9 (68-67-72=207)	Playoff	Bob Charles
8	14 Feb 1988	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−4 (69-73-72=70=284)	3 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
9	28 Feb 1988	Aetna Challenge	−9 (70-70-67=207)	1 stroke	Dave Hill
10	26 Jun 1988	Silver Pages Classic	−13 (69-68-66=203)	Playoff	Harold Henning
11	8 Aug 1988	U.S. Senior Open	E (74-71-70-73=288)	Playoff	Bob Charles
12	11 Sep 1988	GTE North Classic	−15 (70-65-66=201)	2 strokes	Dave Hill
13	10 Sep 1989	GTE North Classic	−9 (67-68=135)	1 stroke	Billy Casper, Al Geiberger, Joe Jimenez
14	8 Oct 1989	RJR Championship	−3 (65-71-71=207)	1 stroke	Rives McBee
15	15 Apr 1990	PGA Seniors' Championship	−7 (74-69-65-73=281)	2 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
16	3 Feb 1991	Royal Caribbean Classic	−13 (67-65-68=200)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Chi-Chi Rodríguez, Lee Trevino
17	19 Sep 1993	Bank One Senior Classic	−14 (68-68-66=202)	3 strokes	Dale Douglass
18	24 Sep 1995	Bank One Classic	−5 (72-75-64=211)	2 strokes	Jack Kiefer
19	23 Aug 1998	Northville Long Island Classic	−12 (68-68-68=204)	1 stroke	Walter Hall, J. C. Snead

Champions Tour playoff record (4–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1986	Denver Post Champions of Golf	Roberto DeVicenzo	Won with par on fourth extra hole
2	1987	PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational	Bob Charles	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	1988	Silver Pages Classic	Harold Henning	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1988	U.S. Senior Open	Bob Charles	Won 18-hole playoff (Player:68, Charles:70)
5	1990	Bell Atlantic Classic	Dale Douglass	Lost to par on second extra hole
6	1996	FHP Health Care Classic	Walter Morgan	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Senior majors are shown in bold. See "Other senior wins" below for Player's wins in the Senior British Open.

European Seniors Tour wins (3)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	15 Aug 1993	Belfast Telegraph Irish Senior Masters	68-68-72=208	2 strokes	José María Roca
2	27 Jul 1997	Senior British Open*	−10 (68-70-72-68=278)	Playoff	John Bland
3	3 Aug 1997	Shell Wentworth Senior Masters	−9 (69-68-70-=207)	1 stroke	José María Cañizares, David Creamer

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1974	Dunlop Masters	Bernard Gallacher	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2	1976	Penfold PGA Championship	Neil Coles, Eamonn Darcy	Coles won with par on third extra hole Player eliminated by par on first hole

Major championships

Wins (9)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1959	The Open Championship	4 shot deficit	−4 (75-71-70-68=284)	2 strokes	Fred Bullock, Flory Van Donck
1961	Masters Tournament	3 shot lead	−8 (69-68-69-74=280)	1 stroke	Charles Coe, Arnold Palmer
1962	PGA Championship	2 shot lead	−2 (72-67-69-70=278)	1 stroke	Bob Goalby
1965	U.S. Open	2 shot lead	+2 (70-70-71-71=282)	Playoff 1	Kel Nagle
1968	The Open Championship (2)	2 shot deficit	+1 (74-71-71-73=289)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus
1972	PGA Championship (2)	1 shot lead	+1 (71-71-67-72=281)	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
1974	Masters Tournament (2)	1 shot deficit	−10 (71-71-66-70=278)	2 strokes	Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
1974	The Open Championship (3)	3 shot lead	−2 (69-68-75-70=282)	4 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis
1978	Masters Tournament (3)	7 shot deficit	−11 (72-72-69-64=277)	1 stroke	Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson

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

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (6)

Year	Championship	Winning Score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1986	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−7 (68-68-73-72=281)	2 strokes	Lee Elder
1987	U.S. Senior Open	−14 (69-68-67-66=270)	6 strokes	Doug Sanders
1987	Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship	−8 (69-73-69-69=280)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1988	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship (2)	−4 (69-73-72-70=284)	3 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1988	U.S. Senior Open (2)	E (74-70-71-73=288)	Playoff1	Bob Charles
1990	PGA Seniors' Championship (3)	−7 (74-69-65-73=281)	2 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez

¹ Won in an 18-hole playoff, Player (68) to Charles (70).

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) this list is probably incomplete
• 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)

See also

• Career Grand Slam champions
• List of golfers with most Champions Tour major championship wins
• List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia wins
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• List of golfers with most Sunshine Tour wins
• List of longest PGA Tour win streaks
• List of men's major championships winning golfers

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gary Player.

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Gary Player

• Official website
• Gary Player at the PGA Tour official site
• Gary Player at the European Tour official site
• Gary Player at the Sunshine Tour official site
• Gary Player Profile at Golf Legends
• Gary Player Golf Course Design
• Gary Player Foundation