The current ‘very good’ PGA Tour player who Gary Player claimed was the most similar to him

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Gary Player was the first non-American golfer to write his name in the history books among the all-time greats.

In 1965, the South African became the first non-American to win the career grand slam by claiming victory at the US Open. And until Rory McIlroy won The Masters in 2025, he remained the only non-American to pull off this historic feat.

Player was the great rival of Jack Nicklaus. While Nicklaus won the most majors of any golfer, if it weren’t for Player, he’d have far more. Nicklaus called Player his favorite golfer, and the pair shared the course in some historic battles over the years. 

In personality and golfing ability, there really isn’t anyone like the nine-time major winner. But Player once named the current PGA Tour golfer who reminds him most of himself. 

The PGA Tour player who reminds Gary Player of himself 

Player is renowned for his fitness, which has allowed him to remain in incredible shape at the age of 89 years old. Player said that stretching has been key to his longevity over the years, that and his dedication in the gym and on the practice range. 

For that reason, he said Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas is the player that is most similar to him. 

When asked which golfer he sees himself in, Player explained at Athletes Quarterly: “That’s a tough one, but probably Camilo Villegas. 

“He spends a lot of time on the practice range, stays in excellent shape, and at times has shown the mental toughness to win. I think that the more he works on his mental game, the better he will become, and he is already a very good player.”

Player said this in 2013, when Villegas was four years removed from having two top tens in major championships. He won the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in 2008, and spent over 30 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

But after Player’s comments, Villegas endured a difficult decade in professional golf. 

Camilo Villegas claimed his first PGA Tour win in nine years in 2023

After Player predicted improvement for Villegas in 2013, the next decade saw the Colombian fight for his PGA Tour card. 

Villegas won the Wyndham Championship in 2013, which was his first win on Tour in more than four years. His victory earned an invitation for the 2015 Masters and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

Despite not regaining his Tour card in 2016, he played PGA Tour events with only his past champion status. But he played well enough in those events to remain on the Tour. 

And in 2023 he climbed back to the top of the mountain in emphatic fashion. Villegas won his fifth PGA Tour event, and his first since 2014, by taking victory at the Bermuda Championship. Going 24 under for the tournament, he defeated Alex Noren by two strokes.