History of Gary Player in Timeline

Gary Player is a highly accomplished South African retired professional golfer, celebrated as one of the sport's all-time greats. He achieved a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major championships, becoming the first non-American to accomplish this feat. He secured nine major championships on the regular tour and nine on the Champions Tour. Player's career spanned over seven decades, during which he won more than 160 professional tournaments across six continents. His remarkable achievements led to his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

November 1935: Gary Player Born

On November 1935, Gary James Player was born. He is a South African retired professional golfer.

Others born on this day/year

January 1957: Marriage to Vivienne Verwey

On January 19, 1957, Gary Player married Vivienne Verwey, the sister of professional golfer Bobby Verwey.

1957: First Masters Appearance

In 1957, Gary Player made his first appearance in the Masters Tournament, beginning a long streak of participation.

1959: British Open Win at Muirfield

In 1959, at 23 years old, Gary Player won the British Open at Muirfield after double-bogeying the last hole.

1961: First International Winner

In 1961, Gary Player became the first international winner of the Masters Tournament.

1961: Led PGA Tour Money List

In 1961, Gary Player led the U.S. based PGA Tour money list.

1962: Lost Playoff in the Masters

In 1962, Gary Player lost in a playoff to Arnold Palmer at the Masters, after which he took the green jacket home, unaware of the rules.

1965: Completed the Grand Slam

In 1965, Gary Player completed the Grand Slam at the age of twenty-nine.

1965: U.S. Open Win and Career Grand Slam

In 1965, at the age of 29, Gary Player won the U.S. Open, becoming the first non-American to achieve a career Grand Slam. At the time, he was the youngest to do so.

1966: Support for Apartheid in Grand Slam Golf

In 1966, Gary Player expressed support for apartheid policies in his book, "Grand Slam Golf", leading to future protests and controversies.

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1966: Awarded the Bob Jones Award

In 1966, Gary Player was awarded the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association.

1968: Top ten of Mark McCormack's world golf rankings

From the inception of Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in 1968 until 1981, Gary Player was in the top ten.

1969: Ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings

In 1969, Gary Player was ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings.

1969: Protests at the PGA Championship

In 1969, activists publicly demonstrated against Gary Player's espousal of apartheid, including protesting against Player at the PGA Championship.

1970: Missed Cut at Open Championship

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the Open Championship in 1970, resulting in a 3rd round cut.

1970: Ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings

In 1970, Gary Player was ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings.

1971: Protest Threats at Tournaments

In 1971, there were several threats to protest against Gary Player at tournaments though they never came to fruition.

1972: Ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings

In 1972, Gary Player was ranked second in Mark McCormack's world golf rankings.

1973: World Match Play Championship win

Gary Player held the record for most victories in the World Match Play Championship with five wins, from 1973 until 1991.

1973: Missed Masters Due to Surgery

In 1973, Gary Player missed the Masters Tournament as he was recovering from surgery, breaking a long streak of appearances.

October 1974: Racist Slurs at Tournament

In October 1974, during a tournament, Australian activists screamed at Gary Player, "Go home, racist!", as he was lining up a putt on the 72nd hole.

1974: Two Major Championships in One Season

In 1974, Gary Player became one of the few golfers to win two major championships in the same season.

1974: Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

In 1974, Gary Player was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

1974: Accusations of Cheating at the Open

In 1974, Gary Player was occasionally accused of cheating at the Open; he has strongly denied the accusations.

1978: Masters Win

In 1978, Gary Player won the Masters Tournament, coming from seven strokes behind to win with a final round of 64.

1979: Lexington PGA Championship Shortened

In 1979, the Lexington PGA Championship was shortened to 54 holes because of rain.

1980: Missed Cut at Open Championship

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the Open Championship in 1980, resulting in a 3rd round cut.

1981: Missed Cut at Open Championship

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the Open Championship in 1981, resulting in a 3rd round cut.

1981: End of Top Ten Ranking

In 1981, Gary Player's run in the top ten of Mark McCormack's world golf rankings ended.

1983: The Player Foundation Established

In 1983, The Player Foundation was established by Marc Player to provide education, nutrition, medical care, and athletic activities to disadvantaged children near Johannesburg, South Africa.

1983: Cheating Accusation by Tom Watson

In 1983, during a skins game in Arizona, Tom Watson accused Gary Player of cheating by moving a leaf from behind his ball.

1984: Second Place at PGA Championship

In 1984, at the age of 48, Gary Player nearly became the oldest major champion, finishing second at the PGA Championship.

1985: Missed Cut at Open Championship

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the Open Championship in 1985, resulting in a 3rd round cut.

1987: Disavowal of Apartheid

In 1987, in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Gary Player disavowed the system of apartheid, stating it was being eliminated.

1989: GTE North Classic Shortened

In 1989, the GTE North Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

1991: World Match Play Championship record

In 1991, Seve Ballesteros equaled Gary Player's record for most victories in the World Match Play Championship, with five wins.

1998: Oldest Golfer to Make the Cut at Masters

In 1998, at the Masters, Gary Player became the oldest golfer to ever make the cut, breaking Sam Snead's 25-year-old record, crediting his diet, health, practice and golf fitness.

2000: Hosted Nelson Mandela Invitational

From 2000, Gary Player hosted the Nelson Mandela Invitational golf tournament staged by Black Knight International.

2000: "Sportsman of the Century" in South Africa

In 2000, Gary Player was voted "Sportsman of the Century" in South Africa.

2000: Ranked eighth greatest golfer of all time

In 2000, Golf Digest magazine ranked Gary Player as the eighth greatest golfer of all time.

2002: Design of a golf course in Burma

In 2002, Gary Player involved in the design of a golf course in Burma.

2002: Ranked Second Greatest Global Golfer

In 2002, Gary 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 Golf Asia Magazine.

2003: Presidents Cup Captain

In 2003, Gary Player was the non-playing captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup, which ended in a tie. The event was held on a course he designed.

2003: Senior Open Championship Recognition

In 2003, the Senior Open Championship became a Champions Tour major, though it was previously on the European Seniors Tour.

2004: Lost share of World Match Play Championship record

In 2004, Ernie Els won the World Match Play Championship for the sixth time, surpassing Gary Player's record of five wins.

2005: World's Most Traveled Athlete

By 2005, Gary Player had logged over 26 million km in air travel and was regarded as the world's most traveled athlete.

2005: Reappointed as Presidents Cup Captain

In 2005, Gary Player was reappointed as captain for the Presidents Cup, where his team lost to the Americans.

March 2006: "Gary Player - A Global Journey" Exhibition Launched

As of March 2006, the "Gary Player – A Global Journey" exhibition was launched by the World Golf Hall of Fame.

July 2007: Allegations of Drug Use in Golf

In July 2007, at the Open Championship, Gary Player made statements about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in golf, alleging that at least ten players were "taking something".

October 2007: Controversy over Burma Golf Course Design

In October 2007, media attention arose about Gary Player's involvement in the 2002 design of a golf course in Burma, leading to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdrawing its support.

2007: Presidents Cup Captain

In 2007, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus were appointed to captain their respective teams again in Canada at the Presidents Cup; the United States won.

April 2009: Last Masters Appearance

On 10 April 2009, Gary Player played for the last time in the Masters, his 52nd appearance, marking every year since 1957 with the exception of 1973 when he was recovering from surgery.

July 2009: Senior British Open Championship

At age 73 on 23 July 2009, Gary 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.

July 2011: Invited as Honorary Starter at the Masters

On 5 July 2011, Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters announced that Gary Player had been invited to join Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter.

December 2011: Finalist for 2016 Olympics Golf Course Design

In early December 2011, Gary Player Design was selected among the finalists of an official RFP with golf accepted back into the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

2012: Honorary Starter at the Masters

Starting with the 2012 tournament, The Big Three of Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer were reunited as honorary starters at the Masters.

July 2013: Nude Photo Shoot for ESPN

In July 2013, Gary Player 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.

2013: The Player Foundation's 30th Anniversary

In 2013, The Player Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary with charity golf events, bringing its total funds raised to over US$60 million.

June 2016: Player brands report as "laughable"

In June 2016, Gary Player criticized a report by the R&A and USGA, calling it "laughable" for its claim that driving distance in golf was only increasing minimally. He also warned of a "tsunami coming" due to the governing bodies' failure to address issues surrounding new golf technology in June 2016.

2016: 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

In 2016, golf was accepted back into the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Gary Player Design was selected among the finalists of an official RFP in early December 2011.

2017: Player comments on the Old Course at St Andrews

In 2017, following the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Gary Player expressed his disappointment on Twitter about the Old Course at St Andrews being "brought to her knees" after Ross Fisher broke the course record during the final round in 2017.

2018: Senior British Open Recognition

In 2018, the Senior British Open was retroactively recognised by the PGA Tour Champions as a senior major.

2019: Last Gary Player Invitational

In 2019, the Gary Player Invitational was staged annually at the Sun City Resort until 2019.

January 2021: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

On 7 January 2021, Gary Player was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by United States President Donald Trump.

August 2021: Vivienne Player's Death

In August 2021, Gary Player's wife, Vivienne, passed away from cancer.

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