Gary Player

Gary Player
Player in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Gary James Player
Nickname	The Black Knight, Mr. Fitness
Born	(1935-11-01) 1 November 1935 Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg; 11 st)
Sporting nationality	South Africa
Residence	Jupiter Island, Florida, U.S. Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Spouse	Vivienne Verwey ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 2021)​
Children	6
Career
Turned professional	1953
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Southern Africa Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	159
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	24
European Tour	4
Sunshine Tour	20
PGA Tour of Australasia	2
PGA Tour Champions	22 (Tied-7th all-time)
European Senior Tour	3
Other	63 (regular) 6 (senior)
Best results in major championships (wins: 9)
Masters Tournament	Won: 1961, 1974, 1978
PGA Championship	Won: 1962, 1972
U.S. Open	Won: 1965
The Open Championship	Won: 1959, 1968, 1974
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1974 (member page) PGA Tour money list winner 1961 Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit winner 1976–77, 1979–80 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award 2020
(For a full list of awards, see here)

Gary James Player DMS OIG (born 1 November 1935) is a South African retired professional golfer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. During his career, Player won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour. At the age of 29, Player won the 1965 U.S. Open and became the only non-American to win all four majors in a career, known as the career Grand Slam. At the time, he was the youngest player to do this, though Jack Nicklaus (26) and Tiger Woods (24) subsequently broke this record. Player became only the third golfer in history to win the Career Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen, and only Nicklaus and Woods have performed the feat since. He won over 160 professional tournaments on six continents over seven decades and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Nicknamed the Black Knight, Mr. Fitness, and the International Ambassador of Golf, he is also a renowned golf course architect with more than 400 design projects on five continents throughout the world. Player has also authored or co-written 36 books on golf instruction, design, philosophy, motivation and fitness. On 7 January 2021, Player was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by United States President Donald Trump.

The Player Group was established by Marc Player and operates The Player Foundation, which has a primary objective of promoting underprivileged education around the world. In 1983, The Player Foundation established the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has educational facilities for more than 500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2013 it celebrated its 30th anniversary with charity golf events in London, Palm Beach, Shanghai and Cape Town, bringing its total of funds raised to over US$60 million.

Background and family

Player with his wife (holding object) and her mother, who were his dedicated supporters at golf tournaments, 1961

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 began his love affair with 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 2 great-grandchildren. 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.

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.

Player is the brother of Ian Player, a South African environmental educator, activist and conservationist.

Playing career

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, and Tiger Woods, he is one of only five 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 26 million km (16 million mi) in air travel – in 2005 it was estimated that he had "probably flown further…than any athlete in history".

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. His first win, as a 23-year-old in 1959 at Muirfield, came after he double-bogeyed the last hole. 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. 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.

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.

Player at the Fancourt Golf Resort in South Africa, 2008

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." 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.

Augusta National green jacket

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 the victory 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."

Legacy

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.

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.

On 10 April 2009, he played for the last time in the Masters, where he was playing for his record 52nd time – every year since 1957 except for 1973, when he was recovering from surgery. 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.

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.

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.

Business and other interests

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.

The Player Foundation

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. 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.

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.

Golf course design

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.

Nelson Mandela Invitational

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. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted Player's position and statements on Burma. 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.

Views

Views on apartheid

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 ... a nation which ... 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". 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. 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.

However, in a 1987 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Player disavowed the system of apartheid, stating, "We have a terrible system in apartheid...it's almost a cancerous disease. I'm happy to say it's being eliminated....we've got to get rid of this apartheid." 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.

Views on golf

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.

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. 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.

Distinctions and honours

• 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.
• Received the 1965 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award.
• 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.
• 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
• Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 7 January 2021 from then President Donald Trump.
• With the death of Jack Burke Jr., Player becomes the oldest living Masters champion.

Professional wins (159)

PGA Tour wins (24)

Legend
Major championships (9)
Other PGA Tour (15)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	20 Apr 1958	Kentucky Derby Open	−14 (68-68-69-69=274)	3 strokes	Chick Harbert, Ernie Vossler
2	3 Jul 1959	The Open Championship	−4 (75-71-70-68=284)	2 strokes	Fred Bullock, Flory Van Donck
3	29 Jan 1961	Lucky International Open	−12 (70-69-68-65=272)	2 strokes	George Bayer, Don Whitt
4	26 Mar 1961	Sunshine Open Invitational	−15 (69-68-67-69=273)	1 stroke	Arnold Palmer
5	10 Apr 1961	Masters Tournament	−8 (69-68-69-74=280)	1 stroke	Charles Coe, Arnold Palmer
6	22 Jul 1962	PGA Championship	−2 (72-67-69-70=278)	1 stroke	Bob Goalby
7	13 Jan 1963	San Diego Open Invitational	−14 (65-65-70-70=270)	1 stroke	Tony Lema
8	9 Mar 1964	Pensacola Open Invitational	−14 (71-68-66-69=274)	Playoff	Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer
9	31 May 1964	500 Festival Open Invitation	−11 (70-66-70-67=273)	1 stroke	Doug Sanders, Art Wall Jr.
10	21 Jun 1965	U.S. Open	+2 (70-70-71-71=282)	Playoff	Kel Nagle
11	13 Jul 1968	The Open Championship (2)	+1 (74-71-71-73=289)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus
12	20 Apr 1969	Tournament of Champions	−4 (69-74-69-72=284)	2 strokes	Lee Trevino
13	5 Apr 1970	Greater Greensboro Open	−13 (70-63-73-65=271)	2 strokes	Miller Barber
14	21 Mar 1971	Greater Jacksonville Open	−7 (70-70-72-69=281)	Playoff	Hal Underwood
15	28 Mar 1971	National Airlines Open Invitational	−14 (69-67-70-68=274)	2 strokes	Lee Trevino
16	26 Mar 1972	Greater New Orleans Open	−9 (73-69-68-69=279)	1 stroke	Dave Eichelberger, Jack Nicklaus
17	6 Aug 1972	PGA Championship (2)	+1 (71-71-67-72=281)	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
18	9 Sep 1973	Southern Open	−10 (69-65-67-69=270)	1 stroke	Forrest Fezler
19	14 Apr 1974	Masters Tournament (2)	−10 (71-71-66-70=278)	2 strokes	Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
20	26 May 1974	Danny Thomas Memphis Classic	−15 (65-72-69-67=273)	2 strokes	Lou Graham, Hubert Green
21	13 Jul 1974	The Open Championship (3)	−2 (69-68-75-70=282)	4 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis
22	9 Apr 1978	Masters Tournament (3)	−11 (72-72-69-64=277)	1 stroke	Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson
23	16 Apr 1978	MONY Tournament of Champions (2)	−7 (70-68-76-67=281)	2 strokes	Andy North, Lee Trevino
24	23 Apr 1978	Houston Open	−18 (64-67-70-69=270)	1 stroke	Andy Bean

PGA Tour playoff record (3–10)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1958	Dallas Open Invitational	Julius Boros, John McMullin, Sam Snead	Snead won with birdie on first extra hole
2	1959	Memphis Open	Al Balding, Don Whitt	Whitt won with par on second extra hole Balding eliminated by birdie on first hole
3	1961	American Golf Classic	Jay Hebert	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
4	1962	Masters Tournament	Dow Finsterwald, Arnold Palmer	Palmer won 18-hole playoff; Palmer: −4 (68), Player: −1 (71), Finsterwald: +5 (77)
5	1962	Memphis Open Invitational	Lionel Hebert, Gene Littler	Hebert won with birdie on first extra hole
6	1963	Palm Springs Golf Classic	Jack Nicklaus	Lost 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus: −7 (65), Player: +1 (73)
7	1964	Pensacola Open Invitational	Miller Barber, Arnold Palmer	Won 18-hole playoff; Player: −1 (71), Palmer: E (72), Barber: +2 (74)
8	1965	U.S. Open	Kel Nagle	Won 18-hole playoff; Player: +1 (71), Nagle: +4 (74)
9	1967	Oklahoma City Open Invitational	Miller Barber	Lost to birdie on third extra hole
10	1968	Azalea Open Invitational	Steve Reid	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
11	1971	Greater Jacksonville Open	Hal Underwood	Won with par on second extra hole
12	1971	Kemper Open	Dale Douglass, Lee Trevino, Tom Weiskopf	Weiskopf won with birdie on first extra hole
13	1975	MONY Tournament of Champions	Al Geiberger	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

European Tour wins (4)

Legend
Major championships (4)
Other European Tour (0)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	6 Aug 1972	PGA Championship	+1 (71-71-67-72=281)	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
2	14 Apr 1974	Masters Tournament	−10 (71-71-66-70=278)	2 strokes	Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
3	13 Jul 1974	The Open Championship	−2 (69-68-75-70=282)	4 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis
4	9 Apr 1978	Masters Tournament (2)	−11 (72-72-69-64=277)	1 stroke	Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson

European Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1974	Dunlop Masters	Bernard Gallacher	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2	1976	Penfold PGA Championship	Neil Coles, Eamonn Darcy	Coles won with par on third extra hole Player eliminated by par on first hole

Southern Africa Tour wins (20)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	15 Jan 1972	NCR Western Province Open	−10 (69-69-67-73=278)	4 strokes	Cobie Legrange
2	22 Jan 1972	Dunlop South African Masters	−17 (71-65-65-66=267)	3 strokes	Bobby Cole
3	12 Feb 1972	South African Open	−18 (69-71-66-68=274)	1 stroke	Bobby Cole
4	2 Dec 1972	Dunlop South African Masters (2)	−12 (65-68-68-67=268)	1 stroke	Harold Henning
5	26 Jan 1974	Dunlop South African Masters (3)	−10 (69-66-70-75=270)	Playoff	Bobby Cole
6	9 Feb 1974	General Motors International Classic	−13 (71-70-71-71=283)	5 strokes	Hugh Baiocchi, John Fourie
7	23 Nov 1974	General Motors International Classic (2)	−16 (71-67-72-70=280)	1 stroke	Andries Oosthuizen
8	1 Feb 1975	BP South African Open (2)	−10 (68-67-72-71=278)	6 strokes	Allan Henning
9	13 Dec 1975	General Motors International Classic (3)	−11 (74-70-68-73=285)	3 strokes	John Fourie
10	7 Feb 1976	Dunlop South African Masters (4)	−12 (68-63-67-70=268)	1 stroke	Cobie Legrange
11	6 Nov 1976	Dunlop South African Masters (5)	−10 (67-65-70-68=270)	4 strokes	Hugh Baiocchi, Simon Hobday
12	27 Nov 1976	Yellow Pages South African Open (3)	−8 (70-68-73-69=280)	6 strokes	David Suddards (a), Bobby Verwey
13	12 Nov 1977	Yellow Pages South African Open (4)	−15 (69-71-63-70=273)	3 strokes	Bobby Cole, Dale Hayes
14	19 Nov 1977	ICL International	−12 (67-66-66-69=268)	2 strokes	Bobby Cole
15	23 Nov 1979	Lexington PGA Championship	−7 (71-66-66=203)*	1 stroke	Bobby Cole, Harold Henning, Nick Price, Denis Watson
16	1 Dec 1979	SAB South African Masters (6)	−18 (67-65-70-68=270)	6 strokes	John O'Leary
17	8 Dec 1979	British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open (5)	−9 (67-75-71-66=279)	1 stroke	Ian Mosey
18	15 Dec 1979	Sun City Classic	−10 (70-71-67-70=278)	4 strokes	Bobby Verwey
19	5 Dec 1981	Datsun South African Open (6)	−16 (67-72-67-66=272)	Playoff	John Bland, Warren Humphreys
20	16 Jan 1982	Lexington PGA Championship (2)	−8 (68-70-66-68=272)	3 strokes	Gordon Brand Jnr, Mark McNulty, Bill Rogers

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

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1974	Dunlop South African Masters	Bobby Cole	Won with par on second extra hole
2	1981	Datsun South African Open	John Bland, Warren Humphreys	Won with birdie on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff; Player: −2 (70), Bland: −2 (70), Humphreys: E (72)

PGA Tour of Australia wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	3 Nov 1974	Qantas Australian Open	−11 (69-72-63-73=277)	3 strokes	Norman Wood
2	15 Nov 1981	Tooth Gold Coast Classic	−13 (65-71-72-67=275)	4 strokes	Bob Shearer

PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1979	Victorian Open	Rodger Davis, Geoff Parslow	Davis won with birdie on second extra hole

Safari Circuit wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	9 Mar 1980	Trophée Félix Houphouët-Boigny	−23 (66-66-69-64=265)	Playoff	Peter Townsend

South American Golf Circuit wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	9 Nov 1980	Chile Open	−4 (72-67-74-71=284)	1 stroke	Alan Pate

Other European wins (10)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	4 May 1956	Dunlop Tournament	70-64-64-72-68=338	2 strokes	Arthur Lees
2	16 Oct 1965	Piccadilly World Match Play Championship	3 and 2		Peter Thomson
3	8 Oct 1966	Piccadilly World Match Play Championship (2)	6 and 4		Jack Nicklaus
4	12 Oct 1968	Piccadilly World Match Play Championship (3)	1 up		Bob Charles
5	9 Oct 1971	Piccadilly World Match Play Championship (4)	5 and 4		Jack Nicklaus
6	13 Oct 1973	Piccadilly World Match Play Championship (5)	40th hole		Graham Marsh
7	8 Nov 1974	La Manga International Pro-Am	−42 (67-54-63-60=244)	Playoff	Clive Clark
8	10 Nov 1974	European Ibergolf Trophy	+1 (73-72=145)	Playoff	Peter Townsend
9	12 Oct 1975	Trophée Lancôme	−10 (73-65-69-71=278)	6 strokes	Lanny Wadkins
10	21 Oct 1984	Johnnie Walker Trophy	−16 (68-71-66-67=272)	Playoff	Seve Ballesteros

Sources:

Japan wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	6 Nov 1961	Yomiuri Pro Championship	+1 (75-72-72-70=289)	5 strokes	Chen Ching-Po
2	14 May 1972	Japan Airlines Open	−8 (67-71-72-70=280)	1 stroke	Lu Liang-Huan, Tōru Nakamura, Peter Thomson, Haruo Yasuda

Other South African wins (39)

• 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, Transvaal Open, Western Province Open, South African Open
• 1961 Transvaal Open (Dec.)
• 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, South African Open
• 1969 South African PGA Championship, South African Open
• 1971 General Motors Open, South African Masters, Western Province Open
• 1974 Rand International Open
• 1986 Nissan Skins Game
• 1988 Nissan Skins Game
• 1991 Nissan Skins Game

Other Australasian wins (17)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	19 Sep 1956	Western Australian Open	69-27-74-74=289	5 strokes	Len Thomas
2	7 Oct 1956	North Coast Open	−4 (69-67=136)	Playoff	Norm Berwick
3	17 Nov 1956	Ampol Tournament	66-73-69-72=280	6 strokes	Bo Wininger
4	13 Oct 1957	North Coast Open (2)	−5 (68-67=135)	1 stroke	Eric Cremin
5	2 Nov 1957	Ampol Tournament (2)	74-70-66-71=281	2 strokes	Dave Thomas
6	21 Nov 1957	Australian PGA Championship	2 up		Peter Thomson
7	30 Aug 1958	Australian Open	68-67-70-66=271	5 strokes	Kel Nagle
8	7 Nov 1959	Victorian Open	−17 (70-69-69-67=275)	5 strokes	Harold Henning
9	14 Nov 1959	Ampol Tournament (3)	73-70-69=212	Shared title with Kel Nagle
10	28 Oct 1961	Wills Classic	−2 (78-68-71-69=286)	3 strokes	Eric Cremin
11	3 Nov 1962	Australian Open (2)	69-70-71-71=281	2 strokes	Kel Nagle
12	2 Nov 1963	Australian Open (3)	−18 (70-70-70-68=278)	7 strokes	Bruce Devlin
13	30 Oct 1965	Australian Open (4)	−28 (62-71-62-69=264)	6 strokes	Frank Phillips, Jack Nicklaus
14	10 Nov 1968	Wills Masters	−15 (69-70-66-72=277)	Playoff	Peter Townsend
15	26 Oct 1969	Australian Open (5)	E (64-69-68-77=288)	1 stroke	Guy Wolstenholme
16	25 Oct 1970	Australian Open (6)	−8 (71-65-70-74=280)	3 strokes	Bruce Devlin
17	1 Nov 1970	Dunlop International	−6 (71-67-73-71=282)	1 stroke	Bill Brask, Kel Nagle, Lee Trevino

Sources:

Other South American wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	24 Nov 1972	Brazil Open	−6 (65-68-68-69=270)	10 strokes	Steve Melnyk
2	1 Dec 1974	Brazil Open (2)	−9 (67-59-70-71=267)	5 strokes	Mark Hayes

Other wins (11)

• 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)

Senior PGA Tour wins (22)

Legend
Senior PGA Tour major championships (9)
Other Senior PGA Tour (13)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	23 Nov 1985	Quadel Seniors Classic	−11 (73-64-68=205)	3 strokes	Jim Ferree, Ken Still
2	16 Feb 1986	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−7 (68-68-73-72=281)	2 strokes	Lee Elder
3	18 May 1986	United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship	−4 (66-70-70=206)	1 stroke	Bob Charles, Lee Elder
4	1 Jun 1986	Denver Post Champions of Golf	−8 (70-67-71=208)	Playoff	Roberto De Vicenzo
5	14 Jun 1987	Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship	−8 (69-73-69-69=280)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton, Chi-Chi Rodríguez
6	12 Jul 1987	U.S. Senior Open	−14 (69-68-67-66=270)	6 strokes	Doug Sanders
7	13 Sep 1987	PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational	−9 (68-67-72=207)	Playoff	Bob Charles
8	14 Feb 1988	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship (2)	−4 (69-73-72=70=284)	3 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
9	28 Feb 1988	Aetna Challenge	−9 (70-70-67=207)	1 stroke	Dave Hill
10	26 Jun 1988	Silver Pages Classic	−13 (69-68-66=203)	Playoff	Harold Henning
11	24 Jul 1988	Volvo Seniors' British Open	−8 (65-66-72-69=272)	1 stroke	Billy Casper
12	8 Aug 1988	U.S. Senior Open (2)	E (74-71-70-73=288)	Playoff	Bob Charles
13	11 Sep 1988	GTE North Classic	−15 (70-65-66=201)	2 strokes	Dave Hill
14	10 Sep 1989	GTE North Classic (2)	−9 (67-68=135)*	1 stroke	Billy Casper, Al Geiberger, Joe Jimenez
15	8 Oct 1989	RJR Championship	−3 (65-71-71=207)	1 stroke	Rives McBee
16	15 Apr 1990	PGA Seniors' Championship (3)	−7 (74-69-65-73=281)	2 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
17	29 Jul 1990	Volvo Seniors' British Open (2)	E (69-65-71-75=280)	1 stroke	Deane Beman, Brian Waites
18	3 Feb 1991	Royal Caribbean Classic	−13 (67-65-68=200)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Chi-Chi Rodríguez, Lee Trevino
19	19 Sep 1993	Bank One Senior Classic	−14 (68-68-66=202)	3 strokes	Dale Douglass
20	24 Sep 1995	Bank One Classic (2)	−5 (72-75-64=211)	2 strokes	Jack Kiefer
21	27 Jul 1997	Senior British Open (3)	−10 (68-70-72-68=278)	Playoff	John Bland
22	23 Aug 1998	Northville Long Island Classic	−12 (68-68-68=204)	1 stroke	Walter Hall, J. C. Snead

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

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (5–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1986	Denver Post Champions of Golf	Roberto De Vicenzo	Won with par on fourth extra hole
2	1987	PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational	Bob Charles	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	1988	Silver Pages Classic	Harold Henning	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1988	U.S. Senior Open	Bob Charles	Won 18-hole playoff; Player: −4 (68), Charles: −2 (70)
5	1990	Bell Atlantic Classic	Dale Douglass	Lost to par on second extra hole
6	1996	FHP Health Care Classic	Walter Morgan	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
7	1997	Senior British Open	John Bland	Won with birdie on second extra hole

European Seniors Tour wins (3)

Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other European Seniors Tour (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	15 Aug 1993	Belfast Telegraph Irish Senior Masters	−5 (68-68-72=208)	2 strokes	José María Roca
2	27 Jul 1997	Senior British Open	−10 (68-70-72-68=278)	Playoff	John Bland
3	3 Aug 1997	Shell Wentworth Senior Masters	−9 (69-68-70=207)	1 stroke	José María Cañizares, David Creamer

European Seniors Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1997	Senior British Open	John Bland	Won with birdie on second extra hole

Other senior wins (6)

• 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.

Major championships

Wins (9)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1959	The Open Championship	4 shot deficit	−4 (75-71-70-68=284)	2 strokes	Fred Bullock, Flory Van Donck
1961	Masters Tournament	4 shot lead	−8 (69-68-69-74=280)	1 stroke	Charles Coe, Arnold Palmer
1962	PGA Championship	2 shot lead	−2 (72-67-69-70=278)	1 stroke	Bob Goalby
1965	U.S. Open	2 shot lead	+2 (70-70-71-71=282)	Playoff1	Kel Nagle
1968	The Open Championship (2)	2 shot deficit	+1 (74-71-71-73=289)	2 strokes	Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus
1972	PGA Championship (2)	1 shot lead	+1 (71-71-67-72=281)	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
1974	Masters Tournament (2)	1 shot deficit	−10 (71-71-66-70=278)	2 strokes	Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
1974	The Open Championship (3)	3 shot lead	−2 (69-68-75-70=282)	4 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis
1978	Masters Tournament (3)	7 shot deficit	−11 (72-72-69-64=277)	1 stroke	Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson

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

Results timeline

Tournament	1956	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament		T24	CUT	T8
U.S. Open			2	T15
The Open Championship	4	T24	7	1
PGA Championship

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament	T6	1	2	T5	T5	T2	T28	T6	T7	T33
U.S. Open	T19	T9	T6	T8	T23	1	T15	T12	T16	T48
The Open Championship	7	WD	CUT	T7	T8	WD	T4	T3	1	T23
PGA Championship		T29	1	T8	T13	T33	T3			2

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Masters Tournament	3	T6	T10		1	T30	T28	T19	1	T17
U.S. Open	T44	T27	T15	12	T8	T43	T23	T10	T6	T2
The Open Championship	CUT	T7	6	T14	1	T32	T28	T22	T34	T19
PGA Championship	T12	T4	1	T51	7	T33	T13	T31	T26	T23

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Masters Tournament	T6	T15	T15	CUT	T21	T36	CUT	T35	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open	CUT	T26	CUT	T20	T43				CUT	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT	CUT	T42	CUT	CUT	CUT	T35	T66	T60	CUT
PGA Championship	T26	T49	CUT	T42	T2	CUT

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Masters Tournament	T24	CUT	CUT	60	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	46	CUT
U.S. Open
The Open Championship	CUT	T57	CUT	CUT	CUT	T68	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT
PGA Championship

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Masters Tournament	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open
The Open Championship	CUT	CUT
PGA Championship

  Win

  Top 10

  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.

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	3	2	1	8	15	22	52	30
U.S. Open	1	2	0	3	9	19	29	25
The Open Championship	3	0	1	6	12	17	46	26
PGA Championship	2	2	1	6	8	12	23	21
Totals	9	6	3	23	44	70	150	102

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

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
The Players Championship	CUT	T21	T9	T13	T28	CUT	T8	CUT	CUT		61

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Senior major championships

Wins (9)

Year	Championship	Winning Score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1986	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−7 (68-68-73-72=281)	2 strokes	Lee Elder
1987	U.S. Senior Open	−14 (69-68-67-66=270)	6 strokes	Doug Sanders
1987	Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship	−8 (69-73-69-69=280)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1988	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship (2)	−4 (69-73-72-70=284)	3 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1988	Volvo Seniors' British Open	−8 (65-66-72-69=272)	1 stroke	Billy Casper
1988	U.S. Senior Open (2)	E (74-70-71-73=288)	Playoff1	Bob Charles
1990	PGA Seniors' Championship (3)	−7 (74-69-65-73=281)	2 strokes	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1990	Volvo Seniors' British Open (2)	E (69-65-71-75=280)	1 stroke	Deane Beman, Brian Waites
1997	Senior British Open (3)	−10 (68-70-72-68=278)	Playoff2	John Bland

¹Defeated Charles in 18-hole playoff; Player (68), Charles (70).
²Defeated Bland with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Results timeline

Tournament	1986	1987	1988	1989
Senior PGA Championship	1	T8	1	T8
U.S. Senior Open	2	1	1	T9
The Tradition	NYF	NYF	NYF	2
Senior Players Championship	T14	1	T3	3

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Senior PGA Championship	1	T8	5	T16	T19	T60	T31	T20	T39	T43
U.S. Senior Open	T3	T8	T3	T17	T13	T19	T60	T21
The Tradition	2	T15	T20	T17	T27	T17	T9	T51	T17	T50
Senior Players Championship	T18	T43	T18	T33	T42		T49	T49		T29

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Senior PGA Championship	T46	T8	T45	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT
The Senior Open Championship	–1	–1	–1	T51	CUT	T61	T65		CUT	CUT
U.S. Senior Open	CUT	57	CUT	T54	CUT		CUT
The Tradition	T34	T19	T62	75	T64	T73	T76			67
Senior Players Championship	T57	T56			T58		T74

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.

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = Missed the half-way cut
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
"T" = tied

Team appearances

• 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)

See also

• 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

External links

• Official website
• Gary Player at the PGA Tour official site
• Gary Player at the European Tour official site
• Gary Player at the Sunshine Tour official site
• Gary Player Profile at Golf Legends
• Gary Player Golf Course Design
• Gary Player Foundation