It is hard to imagine that anyone has a greater love for the game of golf than Gary Player, with the South African still going strong as his 90th birthday approaches next month.
Gary Player is one of the most decorated golfers of all time. He became the third player to achieve the Career Grand Slam in 1965, while he ended his career with nine major titles.
Incredibly, there was more than half a century between his first major appearance and his final one, with Player bowing out at The Masters in 2009, almost 53 years after he finished fourth at the 1956 Open Championship.
Of course, much of his career was spent duelling with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Between 1958 and 1966, the trio won eight of the nine Masters Tournaments which were contested.
Gary Player includes Jack Nicklaus in his favourite four-ball of all time
It is fair to say that the three men completely transformed the game.
Palmer remains one of the most influential players the sport has had nearly a decade on from his passing. Meanwhile, Nicklaus is the greatest champion in golf’s history, having won 18 majors. And no one had a record worldwide like Player, with more than 150 professional wins.
So perhaps it is no surprise that Player included Palmer and Nicklaus when asked by NBC to name his favourite foursome of all-time, with a six-time major champion completing the quartet.
“No question, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino, absolutely fantastic. I have played with Tiger and I’m a great admirer of Tiger. If Tiger Woods never had any injuries, he would have done things in golf we never would have dreamt of, but he never,” he said.
The achievement which Gary Player once rated higher than his nine major championship victories
Player is unquestionably one of the greatest talents the game has ever had. A lot of players would wish that they had the appetite that the 89-year-old possesses.
Interestingly, it is not his nine major wins which Player considers to be his greatest achievement.
In fact, he once suggested that it was his victories since turning 50 which provide him with more satisfaction, with many of his former rivals unable to keep up with him.
“I won nine majors on the regular tour but I think the nine majors on the senior tour were better,” he said.
“I tell you why because you have to do it when you are 50 and over. I am the only one who has won the grand slam on the regular tour and senior tour. If it was that easy, why did Palmer and Nicklaus not do it? Why did Trevino and Watson not do it? If it’s that easy.”
It is incredible that Player went on to win nine senior majors. But given his passion for the game, it should come as no surprise that he remained so prolific in the twilight of his career.
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