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 secured nine major championships on the regular tour and nine on the Champions Tour. In 1965, he became the first non-American to achieve a Career Grand Slam, winning all four major championships. Player was the youngest to accomplish this feat at the time. He is one of only five golfers in history to have won a Career Grand Slam. With over 160 professional tournament victories across six continents throughout seven decades, Player's impact on golf is undeniable. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

November 1935: Gary Player's Birth

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

Others born on this day/year

January 1957: Gary Player's Marriage

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

1957: Started at the Masters

Since 1957, Gary Player played at the Masters, with the exception of 1973.

1959: British Open Win at Muirfield

In 1959, at the age of 23, 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: Took The Green Jacket Home

In 1962, after Gary Player lost a playoff to Arnold Palmer, he took the green jacket home, unaware of the rule that the jacket needed to be kept on club grounds, leading to a call from club Chairman Clifford Roberts.

1965: Completion of Career Grand Slam

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

1965: 1965 U.S. Open Win

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 in golf.

1966: Supported Apartheid Policies

In 1966, Gary Player voiced support for the apartheid policies of Hendrik Verwoerd in his book Grand Slam Golf.

Grand Slam Golf

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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: Ranked in 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 McCormack's world golf rankings

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

1969: Protested at the PGA Championship

In 1969, activists protested against Gary Player at the PGA Championship due to his espousal of apartheid.

1970: Missed Halfway Cut

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the 1970 Open Championship.

1970: Ranked second in McCormack's world golf rankings

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

1971: Threats to Protest

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

1972: Ranked second in McCormack's world golf rankings

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

1973: Held record for most victories in the World Match Play Championship

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

1973: Recovered from surgery

In 1973, Gary Player was recovering from surgery.

October 1974: Racist Slurs Yelled at Player

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

1974: Won Two Major Championships

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

1974: Accusations of Cheating at the Open

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

1974: Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

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

1978: Masters Win

In 1978, Gary Player won the Masters after starting seven strokes behind, carding a final round 64 with birdies at seven of the last ten holes.

1979: Lexington PGA Championship Shortened

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

1980: Missed Halfway Cut

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the 1980 Open Championship.

1981: Ranked in 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.

1981: Missed Halfway Cut

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the 1981 Open Championship.

1983: The Player Foundation established Blair Atholl Schools

In 1983, The Player Foundation established the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, providing educational facilities for over 500 students.

1983: Accusation of Cheating by Tom Watson

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

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 behind Lee Trevino.

1985: Missed Halfway Cut

Gary Player missed the halfway cut at the 1985 Open Championship.

1987: Disavowed Apartheid

In 1987, Gary Player disavowed the system of apartheid, calling it a "cancerous disease" in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

1989: GTE North Classic Shortened

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

1991: Seve Ballesteros Equalled Player's Record

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

1998: Oldest Golfer to Make the Cut at the Masters

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

2000: Sportsman of the Century

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: Ranked Second Greatest Global Golfer of All Time

In 2002, Gary Player was voted as the second greatest global golfer of all time by a panel conducted by Golf Asia Magazine.

2003: Captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup

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

2003: Senior Open Championship Becomes a Major

In 2003, the Senior Open Championship was recognised as a Champions Tour major.

2004: Ernie Els Broke Player's Record

In 2004, Ernie Els surpassed Gary Player's record by winning his sixth World Match Play Championship.

2005: Most Traveled Athlete

By 2005, it was estimated that Gary Player had flown further than any athlete in history, logging more than 26 million kilometers in air travel.

2005: Reappointed Captain for Presidents Cup

In 2005, Gary Player was reappointed as captain for the Presidents Cup, but 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 Hall of Fame.

July 2007: Allegations of Drug Use in Golf

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

2007: Captain for Presidents Cup

In 2007, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus captained their respective teams again in Canada, with the United States winning the Presidents Cup.

April 2009: Last Masters Appearance

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

July 2009: Competed in Senior British Open Championship

At the age of 73, on July 23, 2009, Gary Player competed in the Senior British Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club, 53 years after his first European Tour victory.

July 2011: Invited as Honorary Starter

On July 5, 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.

2012: Reunited as Honorary Starters

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

July 2013: Posed Nude in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue

In July 2013, Gary Player became the oldest athlete to pose nude in ESPN The Magazine's annual Body Issue, with the goal of inspiring people to take care of themselves at any age.

2013: 30th Anniversary of The Player Foundation

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

June 2016: Criticized Governing Bodies

In June 2016, Gary Player criticized a report by the R&A and USGA that driving distance in golf was increasing minimally, warning of a "tsunami coming" due to a failure to address issues with new golf technology in an interview with bunkered.co.uk.

2017: Reiterated Comments on Golf Technology

After the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Gary Player reiterated his concerns about golf technology, expressing sadness that the Old Course at St Andrews was "brought to her knees."