Gary Player bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the Players Championship
Legendary South African Gary Player received the Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the star-studded Players Championship on Wednesday, May 9 and has now become the 10th recipient of the illustrious award.
Player, while reminiscing about all the giants of the sport of his time, reckoned that he has played with almost every great player of the sport that has ever lived.
Being part of the “Big Three”, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Player is one who kicks off the Masters every year at the sprawling Augusta National.
Player said, “You talk about a journey? I played golf with Gene Sarazen, and I played with Tommy Armour, as well. And to play with Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, and then with Arnold [Palmer] and Jack [Nicklaus], and the young players today, it’s been a real long journey. And it’s so nice being my age, 76, and beating my age by almost six and seven shots a day”.
Player has won a whooping nine major titles in his grizzled career and has gone over to win no fewer than 165 professional titles.
Better known as the “Black Knight” for his customary black apparel in the tournaments, Player has received the Lifetime Achievement Award on PGA after Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Jack Burke Jr., Pete Dye, Deane Beman, Jack Nicklaus and President George H.W. Bush.
Turning professional in the year 1953, Player landed his first PGA Tour title, the Kentucky Derby Open in 1958. He is ranked third for the highest number of professional wins behind Roberto de Vicenzo and Sam Snead and is ranked joint fourth for the highest number of major wins in his career.
Besides several accolades and awards in his career, Player touched the zenith when he was awarded the “Sportsman of the Century” award in South Africa in the year 2000.
He was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 for his magical journey to stardom. Player was also declared the eight greatest golfers of all times by Golf Digest the same year.
Player retired from mainstream golf in 2009 when he played his last Masters at Augusta National.
He has been playing on the Champions Tour since 1985 and is also running a thriving Golf course designing firm which has designed several champion courses all over the world.
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