Gary Player has been at it again with his outlandish claims this week, this time taking aim at one PGA Tour star in particular who he believes he’d be able to turn into the world number one golfer overnight.
Since he stopped playing competitively, Player has forged a reputation as one of the most highly-critical golf analysts in the game today.
He won 159 professional tournaments worldwide, including nine major championships, so he obviously knows what he’s talking about.
Player recently suggested Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer to have ever lived, although he did point out that Jack Nicklaus had the better career.
Over the past few months, Player has been particularly critical of some of the current PGA Tour stars’ golf swings.
Now the 89-year-old has vented his frustrations at one specific golfer’s ‘pitiful swing’, although he didn’t actually name him.
Gary Player claims he could make PGA Tour star with ‘pitiful swing’ the best in the world
Player isn’t afraid of ruffling feathers; that much is clear. That said, as blunt as he comes across with his advice sometimes, it’s obvious to see that he’s desperate to help in any way that he can.
When speaking to Golf.com, Player highlighted just how frustrated and disillusioned he has become with modern-day coaching methods.
The South African golfing legend even suggested he would instantly be able to make one golfer in particular the number one player in the world within just one hour.
He said: “When I listen to some of today’s teaching, I shudder. We’ve got some pros on Tour today — I’m not naming names, because I don’t want to embarrass anybody. But there is one player in particular — if I could spend just an hour with him I could make him into the best player in the world.
“He has so much ability but such a pitiful swing. And it’s getting worse and worse. I ask young pros, ‘What is the most important thing in a swing?‘ The rubbish they tell me!“
That’s quite the claim from Mr Player!
So, who could he have been talking about? There are numerous highly talented golfers out there who swing the club unconventionally.
A look at Gary Player’s previous comments on Jordan Spieth
Now, while Player didn’t name which golfer he was referring to above, we can obviously take a guess at who he had in mind.
Taking into account what he has previously said about Jordan Spieth, it’s fair to assume he could be speaking about the 32-year-old Dallas native.
Player suggested Spieth could be the best in the world if only he was coached correctly.
The South African said: “What they are doing, they did it with Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. Now those two guys. Jordan Spieth I think is the best golfer in the world but in my opinion he was taught the wrong thing. And he just went downhill. He went downhill. If you had a man like Ben Hogan teaching Jordan Spieth he would be the best in the world. He’s such a competitor, such a wonderful man. A wonderful guy for golf, the best short game, best course management but he just can’t hit the ball. That is a tragedy.“
Of course, Spieth has been ranked as the best golfer in the world before, albeit a decade ago, but Player is obviously talking about the here and now.
So if the nine-time major winner was talking about Spieth, which it is not confirmed that he was, then perhaps the man from Dallas, Texas, should give the nine-time major winner a call in order to pick his brain.
Then Player would have to put his money where his mouth is.
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