Gary Player's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Gary Player.

Gary Player is a South African retired professional golfer, considered one of the greatest ever. He achieved a career Grand Slam by age 29, becoming the only non-American at the time to win all four majors. He won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine on the Champions Tour. Player has won over 160 professional tournaments across six continents over seven decades. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1959: British Open Win at Muirfield

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

1961: First International Winner of Masters

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.

1965: Completion of Career Grand Slam

In 1965, Gary Player completed the Career 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 only non-American to win all four majors in a career, achieving the Career Grand Slam. He was the youngest to achieve this feat at the time.

1966: Awarded Bob Jones Award

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

1968: Inception of McCormack's world golf rankings

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

1970: Ranked second in McCormack's world golf rankings

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

1972: Ranked second in 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

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

1974: Won two major championships in the same season

In 1974, Gary Player became one of the few golfers in history 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.

1978: Last Masters Win

In 1978, Gary Player won the Masters, overcoming a seven-stroke deficit in the final round with a back nine of 30.

1981: End of Top Ten Ranking

In 1981, Gary Player's streak of being in the top ten of Mark McCormack's world golf rankings ended, a streak that began in 1968.

1991: Record Equaled in World Match Play Championship

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

1998: Oldest Golfer to Make the Cut at the Masters

In 1998, at the Masters, Gary Player, at the age of 48, became the oldest golfer to make the cut, breaking a 25-year-old record.

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: Second Greatest Global Golfer

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

2003: Senior Open Championship Recognition

In 2003, the Senior Open Championship became a Champions Tour major, though Gary Player had already won the event three times on the European Seniors Tour.

2004: Record Lost in World Match Play Championship

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

2005: Acknowledged as world's most traveled athlete

In 2005, it was estimated that Gary Player had "probably flown further … than any athlete in history", logging more than 26 million km in air travel.

2006: Launch of "Gary Player - A Global Journey" exhibition

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

July 2011: Invited as Honorary Starter for Masters

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.