:Gary Player

File:Gary Player with wife and her mother 1961.jpg

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 Gary to begin playing golf. The Virginia Park golf course in Johannesburg is where Player first gained his love for 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 had six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, and Amanda. He also has 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/6904576.stm |work=BBC News |title=Golf legend Player in drugs claim |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=3 May 2010}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.sapeople.com/2018/01/23/gary-player-winner-golf-course-love/ |title=Gary Player - A Winner on the Golf Course, and in Love |date=23 January 2018 |website=SAPeople - Your Worldwide South African Community |access-date=18 January 2019}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/golf/rip-gary-player-wife-dies-breaking-vivienne-player/ |work=The South African |title=Gary Player's wife dies |first=Garrin |last=Lambley |date=18 August 2021 |access-date=18 August 2021}}

Player's eldest son, Marc, owns and operates The Player Group, which exclusively represents Player in all his commercial activities, including all endorsements, licensing, merchandising, golf course design, and real estate development.{{cite magazine |last=Roberts |first=Daniel |title=Cowboy on the Green |magazine=Fortune |date=30 June 2014 |volume=169 |issue=9 |pages=18–19}}

Player is the brother of Ian Player, a South African environmental educator, activist and conservationist.{{cite web |publisher=Ian Player Official Web Site|url=http://ianplayer.com/ |title=About Ian Player |access-date=9 March 2011}}

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 his era – from the late 1950s through the late 1970s – when 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 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 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 {{convert|26|e6km|e6mi|abbr=unit}} in air travel – in 2005 it was estimated that he had "probably flown further{{nbsp}}… than any athlete in history".{{cite web|title=Been, seen and conquered - Gary Player at 81|url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/sport/been-seen-and-conquered---gary-player-at-81/|website=Jacaranda FM|access-date=29 May 2017|date=1 November 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |title=Golf: Gary Player |first=Brad |last=Morgan |publisher=SouthAfrica.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202121737/http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |archive-date=2 December 2005}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |title=Golf: Gary Player |publisher=SouthAfrica.info |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202121737/http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |archive-date=2 December 2005 }} His first win, as a 23-year-old in 1959 at Muirfield, came after he double-bogeyed the last hole.{{cite web|url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx#player=Gary+PLAYER |title=1959 Gary Player |publisher=The Open |access-date=18 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016164928/http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2013 }} 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.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19780417&id=PtBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3384,3465753&hl=en|title=Incredible comeback|work=Star-News|date=17 April 1978}} 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.Hill, Susan: "Fit For Golf", page 34. Resort Living

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-the-paradox-that-is-gary-player-1329010.html|title=Golf: The paradox that is Gary Player|date=16 July 1996|work=The Independent}}

File:Gary Player - Fancourt.jpg

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."{{cite book |title=The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations |editor-first=Jim |editor-last=Apfelbaum |year=2007 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1602390140}} 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.

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."{{cite news |url=https://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/masters-traditions-green-jackets |title=Masters Traditions: Green Jackets |newspaper=The Augusta Chronicle |date=9 April 2017 |first=John |last=Boyette}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_7_51/ai_63015233 |title=50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us |access-date=5 December 2007 |last=Yocom |first=Guy |date=July 2000 |work=Golf Digest }}

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.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

On 10 April 2009, he played for the last time in the Masters, where he was playing for his record 52nd time{{cite web |title=Who Played the Most Masters Tournaments? |url=http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/f/most-masters-played.htm |access-date=14 April 2013 |publisher=golf.about.com |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022054544/http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/f/most-masters-played.htm |url-status=dead }} – every year since 1957 except for 1973, when he was recovering from surgery.{{cite web |title=The Masters: Gary Player's 50th appearance |url=http://www.pgatour.com/news/2007/03/28/masters_player.html |access-date=14 April 2013|work=PGA Tour|date=28 March 2007}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportscampus.com/200907101333/golf-news/player-soc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330160724/http://www.thesportscampus.com/200907101333/golf-news/player-soc |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-03-30 |title=Gary Player takes a trip down memory lane at Sunningdale }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2011-07-05/201107051309873298589 |title=Player to Join Palmer, Nicklaus as Honorary Starter at 2012 Masters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128201148/http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2011-07-05/201107051309873298589 |archive-date=28 January 2013}}

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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/page/bodyissue2013garyplayer |title=Golf: Gary Player nude |date=9 July 2013 |work=ESPN |access-date=18 January 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/07/espn-body-issue-photos-gary-player-matt-harvey |title=The first photos from ESPN the Magazine's 'Body Issue' are here |date=9 July 2013 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121150/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/07/espn-body-issue-photos-gary-player-matt-harvey |url-status=dead }}

Gary Player's business interests are exclusively 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. The Player Group, which operates The Player Foundation, is owned and managed by Marc Player.{{Cite web|title=Marc Player's 'deteriorated' relationship with father, Gary Player Group proceeds with counter claim|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/golf/mark-players-deteriorated-relationship-with-father-gary-player-group-proceeds-with-counter-claim-20200619|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Sport|language=en-US}}

The Player Foundation was established in 1983 by Marc Player 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 $65 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 donations, grants and the four Gary Player Invitational events presented through Black Knight International and staged in the United States, China, Europe and South Africa annually.{{cite web |url=http://garyplayer.com/foundation/foundation_profile |title=Foundation Overview |publisher=garyplayer.com |access-date=18 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133024/http://garyplayer.com/foundation/foundation_profile/ |archive-date=19 October 2013}} 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 and the Masizame Children's Shelter in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

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.{{cite web |title=The Gary Player Invitational UK Continues Its Success |url=http://garyplayer.com/news/news_detail/the_gary_player_invitational_uk_continues_its_success/ |publisher=garyplayer.com |access-date=13 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605111110/http://garyplayer.com/news/news_detail/the_gary_player_invitational_uk_continues_its_success/ |archive-date=5 June 2013}}{{cite web |title=Beneficiaries |url=http://garyplayerinvitational.com/south_africa/beneficiaries |publisher=garyplayerinvitational.com |access-date=5 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311034847/http://garyplayerinvitational.com/south_africa/beneficiaries |archive-date=11 March 2012}}

The Player Design firm have executed over 400 projects in 41 countries on five continents, including courses such as the Gary Player Country Club, Leopard Creek, Thracian Cliffs, Wentworth and The Links at Fancourt.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.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-gil-hanse-beat-jack-nicklaus-greg-norman-and-gary-player-for-the-rio-job |title=How Gil Hanse Beat Nicklaus, Norman and Player for the Rio Job |last=Whitten |first=Ron |magazine=Golf Digest |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=18 January 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2012/3/7/gil-hanse-wins-olympic-course-design-competition.html |title=Gil Hanse Wins Olympic Course Design Competition |website=GeoffShackelford.com |date=7 March 2012 |access-date=18 January 2019}}

Player hosted the Nelson Mandela Invitational golf tournament staged by Black Knight International from 2000. In October 2007, media attention arose about his involvement in the 2002 design of a golf course in Burma and as a result, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdrew its support.{{cite web |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=Mandela snubs Gary Player over Burma links |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/oct/09/burma.southafrica |website=The Guardian |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=9 October 2007}} Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted Player's position and statements on Burma.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/10/nburma110.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011224404/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F10%2F10%2Fnburma110.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2007 |title=Burmese diplomat quits London Embassy |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 October 2007 |access-date=10 October 2007 }} Player refused to withdraw as he and his son Marc personally built the golf event from scratch and issued a statement rebutting these claims via his website. The event continued to be staged annually at the Sun City Resort as the Gary Player Invitational until 2019.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

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{{nbsp}}... a nation which{{nbsp}}... 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".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/942105/they-don-t-really-care-about-us |title=They don't really care about us |magazine=The Cricket Monthly |author=Vice, Telford |date=December 2015}} 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.{{Cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110685433 |title=Trouble threat |date=4 November 1971 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=8 January 2020 |page=34}} 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.{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NJFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5274,5089494 |title=Ball again wins Masters |date=28 October 1974 |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |access-date=5 December 2019}}

However, in a 1987 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Player disavowed the system of apartheid, stating, "We have a terrible system in apartheid{{nbsp}}... it's almost a cancerous disease. I'm happy to say it's being eliminated. [...] We've got to get rid of this apartheid."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-24-sp-499-story.html |title=Gary Player Gives His Views on Apartheid |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=24 April 1987 |access-date=11 June 2018}} 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.{{cite web |last=Graham Bensinger |title=Gary Player: I helped break apartheid in sport |website=YouTube |date=9 August 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnl52rYo4sg&list=PLW5qT4HIAd1aVpFoLHLc4_PPuQFBc_p-Z&index=11&t=0s&app=desktop | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/Pnl52rYo4sg| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|access-date=29 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}

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.{{cite news |last=Slot |first=Owen |title=Carnoustie is rocked by doping allegations |newspaper=The Times |date=19 July 2007 |page=80 |via=The Times Digital Archive |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503690533/TTDA?u=bli_ttda&sid=TTDA&xid=ccba01c2 |access-date=23 September 2020 |url-access=limited}}

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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/gary-player-brands-ra-report-laughable |title=Gary Player brands R&A report 'laughable' |date=9 June 2016 |magazine=bunkered |first=Martin |last=Inglis}} 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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/gary-player-old-course-brought-to-her-knees |title=Gary Player: Old Course 'brought to her knees' |date=9 October 2017 |magazine=bunkered |first=Martin |last=Inglis}}

• 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.ernieford.com/FordShow5-8.htm |title=The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford |publisher=ernieford.com |access-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221041655/http://ernieford.com/FordShow5-8.htm |archive-date=21 December 2010}}
• Received the 1965 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award.{{cite web |title=50th Sports Personality of the Year |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/11_november/20/spoty_50_facts.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107034654/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/11_november/20/spoty_50_facts.shtml |archive-date=7 January 2016 |access-date=15 January 2009 |work=BBC Press Office |publisher=BBC}}
• 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}
• Has designed over 400 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.
• Received the 2020 GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America{{cite web |title=Gary Player to receive 2020 Old Tom Morris Award from GCSAA |url=https://www.gcmonline.com/tags/gary-player-gcsaa |date=5 November 2019}}
• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 7 January 2021 from then President Donald Trump.{{cite web |title=Trump honors golfing greats with award in private ceremony |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-golf-gary-player-kayleigh-mcenany-8353c96f50a00ecf4c868c3c9e1a3992 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=8 January 2021 |date=7 January 2021}}
• With the death of Jack Burke Jr., Player becomes the oldest living Masters champion.

PGA Tour playoff record (3–10)

European Tour playoff record (0–2)

*Note: The 1979 Lexington PGA Championship was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (2–0)

PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–1)

Sources:{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3pxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4414%2C670176 |title=Player beat tournament record by seven |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7 |date=5 May 1956}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8HVDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1521%2C2900207 |title=Distinctive end to season |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5 |date=18 October 1965 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VuE9AAAAIBAJ&pg=6818%2C1377106 |title=Player again wins Piccadilly match-play event |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=10 October 1966 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bds9AAAAIBAJ&pg=6259%2C2521681 |title=Player's one-hole victory against Charles |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5 |date=14 October 1968 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tNk9AAAAIBAJ&pg=1850%2C4347544 |title=Player again shows he is master of match-play |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=5 |date=11 October 1971 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dZFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4612%2C3373667 |title=Player unyielding at match-play |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=4 |date=15 October 1973 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65330164/york-daily-record/ |title=Gary Player takes Spanish golf test |newspaper=York Daily Record |page=17 |date=9 November 1974 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=New-AAAAIBAJ&pg=1995%2C2247265 |title=Player beats Townsend in play-off |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=7 |date=11 November 1974 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=13 October 1975 |page=9 |title=Player finishes well clear of field}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hvE9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4821%2C5135086 |title=South Africa's Gary Player |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |page=16 |date=22 October 1984 |via=Google News Archive}}

• 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,{{cite web|title=Nashua Masters Information Sheet|url=http://images.supersport.co.za/NashuaMastersInfoSheet2008.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130815/http://images.supersport.co.za/NashuaMastersInfoSheet2008.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2011|access-date=2008-11-26|publisher=supersport.co.za}} Transvaal Open, Western Province Open, South African Open
• 1961 Transvaal Open (Dec.){{cite news|date=25 December 1961|title=Transvaal title To Player|newspaper=The Straits Times|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19611225-1.1.14}}
• 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,{{Cite news|date=19 February 1968|title=Player's victory in Cape Town|page=5|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19680219&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}} South African Open
• 1969 South African PGA Championship, South African Open
• 1971 General Motors Open,{{cite news|date=1 February 1971|title=Player 20 under for 72 holes|page=15|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2-k9AAAAIBAJ&pg=6792%2C170034}} South African Masters, Western Province Open
• 1974 Rand International Open
• 1986 Nissan Skins Game
• 1988 Nissan Skins Game
• 1991 Nissan Skins Game

Sources:{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w3VWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3640%2C2440145 |title=W.A. Open to Gary Player |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 September 1956 |page=10}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=69RYAAAAIBAJ&pg=1641%2C5081866 |title=Player, Berwick Share Purse |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 October 1956 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71766529 |title=Stars made it so easy for Gary |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne|date=19 November 1956 |access-date=20 April 2017 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nH9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=2836%2C3112702 |title=Close Golf Victory to Player |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 October 1957 |page=14}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91241772 |title=Gary Player Wins Ampol |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=31 |issue=9,317 |date=4 November 1957 |access-date=20 April 2017 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91243362 |title=South African Defeats Peter Thomson |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=31 |issue=9333 |date=22 November 1957 |access-date=16 May 2017 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63517413/the-sydney-morning-herald/ |newspaper=The Sun-Herald |title=Open record to Player |date=31 August 1958 |page=63 |access-date=18 November 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103106586 |title=Record Round To Player |newspaper=The Canberra Times |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=9 November 1959 |access-date=22 February 2020 |page=10 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103069454 |title=Nagle, Player in Ampol Golf Tie |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=34 |issue=9,448 |date=16 November 1959 |access-date=20 April 2017 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dnxWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6386%2C7247397 |title=Player's triumph - Tragic shot fatal for Cremin |newspaper=The Sun-Herald |date=29 October 1961 |page=48}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_JBVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6896%2C792192 |newspaper=The Age |title=Player says victory one of his greatest |first=Don |last=Lawrence |date=5 November 1962 |page=18 |access-date=18 November 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8pQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6471%2C940156 |newspaper=The Sun-Herald |title=Easy win for Player|date=3 November 1963 |page=60 |access-date=18 November 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gUUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6932%2C125179 |newspaper=The Age |title=Gary Player misses one record he didn't know about |first=Don |last=Lawrence |date=1 November 1965 |page=28 |access-date=19 November 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136954651 |title=Gary Player wins play-off |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=43 |issue=12,154 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=11 November 1968 |access-date=24 April 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F5JAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3550%2C4934903 |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |title=Australian title for Player |date=27 October 1969 |page=5 |access-date=21 November 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J-FUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5018%2C5874580 |newspaper=The Age |title=An incredible win, despite a last round 74 |first=Peter |last=Thomson |date=26 October 1970 |page=26 |access-date=21 November 2020 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110436315 |title=Player takes one-stroke victory |first=John |last=Hourigan |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=45 |issue=12,737 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=2 November 1970 |access-date=6 May 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}

• 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)

*Note: The 1989 GTE North Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (5–2)

European Seniors Tour playoff record (1–0)

• 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.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-well-do-you-remember-what-happened-in-golf-in-2018-take-our-quiz |title=How well do you remember what happened in golf in 2018? Take our quiz |last=Herrington |first=Ryan |magazine=Golf Digest |date=21 December 2018 |access-date=18 January 2019}}

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

{{legend|lime|Win}}

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

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.

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

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

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

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

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.

{{legend|lime|Win}}

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

CUT = Missed the half-way cut

NYF = Tournament not yet founded

"T" = tied

• 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)

• 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 wins
• List of longest PGA Tour win streaks
• List of men's major championships winning golfers

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Gary Player}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.GaryPlayer.com}}
• {{PGATour player|01955}}
• {{EuroTour player|155}}
• {{SunshineTour player|PLA004}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060523202926/http://www.golflegends.org/gary-player.php Gary Player] Profile at Golf Legends
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040825133743/http://garyplayerdesign.com/ Gary Player Golf Course Design]
• [https://archive.today/20130415234135/http://www.theplayerfoundation.org/ Gary Player Foundation]

{{navboxes|title=Gary Player in the major championships

|list1=

{{The Masters champions}}

{{U.S. Open champions}}

{{The Open champions}}

{{PGA Champions}}

{{Men’s Career Grand Slam Champion golfers}}

}}

{{navboxes|title=Gary Player in the senior major championships

|list1=

{{Senior PGA Championship champions}}

{{U.S. Senior Open champions}}

{{Senior Players Championship champions}}

{{Senior British Open Championship champions}}

}}

{{navboxes|title=Gary Player in the Presidents Cup

|list1=

{{2003 International Presidents Cup team}}

{{2005 International Presidents Cup team}}

{{2007 International Presidents Cup team}}

}}

{{BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year}}

{{Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Player, Gary}}

Category:South African male golfers

Category:Sunshine Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers

Category:Winners of men's major golf championships

Category:Men's Career Grand Slam champion golfers

Category:Winners of senior major golf championships

Category:World Golf Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Golf course architects

Category:Golf writers

Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners

Category:Recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga

Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

Category:BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year winners

Category:Alumni of King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)

Category:South African people of British descent

Category:Golfers from Johannesburg

Category:People from Pixley ka Seme District Municipality

Category:Sportspeople from the Northern Cape

Category:People from Jupiter Island, Florida

Category:Sportspeople from Martin County, Florida

Category:1935 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century South African sportsmen