Player is considered one of the best to have played the sport of golf. During his stellar career, which spanned over sixty years, he won 165 tournaments on six continents, leading to his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He has won nine major championships, six Champions Tour major championship victories, and three Senior British Open Championships on the European Senior Tour. In 1965 Player won the US Open and became the only non-American to win a career Grand Slam.
Any professional sportsman knows that travel becomes an important prerequisite of a successful career, but few have travelled the world like Player. It is rumoured that he has travelled over 24 million kilometres to and from various tournaments and international engagements.
The South African golfing legend has had three main nicknames that have been used to describe him during his illustrious career. He is affectionately known as the Black Knight because of the fact that he would often wear all-black while playing. Mr Fitness is another nickname that came about due to his focus on health and fitness, while International Ambassador of Golf describes his ability to represent the game globally.
Player is a well respected golf course designer and architect, having been involved in over 300 projects in 35 countries on five continents, including the famous Gary Player Country Club course in Sun City. Gary Player Design follows a strict environmental policy, which ensures minimised site disturbance and using organic applications in course designs. In 2015 alone he designed courses in India, Italy, the United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Peru, and Vietnam.
Another sport that he developed a passion for was horse racing, and through his stud farm and ranch in South Africa Player has managed to produce over 2,000 top thoroughbred racehorses who have gone on to achieve some level of success in the sport.
The Johannesburg-born golfer married wife Vivienne Verwey in 1957, and they now have six children whose names are Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa and Amanda. The big family that Player is famous for did not stop there, as he is now a grandfather to 21 grandchildren. Earlier in his professional career Player travelled around the world playing golf with his wife, six children, nanny and a tutor following from tournament to tournament.
The 80-year-old established the Player Foundation in 1983 as a group focused on the needs of children with regards to education, nutrition, medical care and athletic activities. At first this benefited disadvantaged children living on the outskirts of Johannesburg, but with time and dedication the Foundation has grown to benefit underprivileged children globally. The Player Foundation has donated over $50 million to the support of children’s charities since inception, and continues to do excellent work each year.
Player is famous for his attitude towards fitness, nutrition and health, working hard even at 80 to keep himself in shape and eat well. At the age of 77, Player posed for ESPN The Magazine’s yearly Body Issue, which is an annual publication that serves to celebrate the bodies that athletes build in their quest for sporting greatness. In so doing, Player became the oldest athlete to pose for the magazine.
