Celebrating Gary Player’s enduring legacy in golf and beyond
Gary Player, a legendary South African golfer and philanthropist, is celebrated for his nine major championship wins, pioneering fitness in golf, and his impactful Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation, which supports vulnerable children in South Africa and the USA. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Though he has come under fire in recent times for his support of US President Donald Trump, there’s no disputing that Gary Player is up there as one of South Africa’s greatest ever sportspeople.
Some may argue that people like Siya Kolisi, Wayde van Niekerk and Tatjana Smith have achieved more, but it’s a matter of opinion when you compare different sports.
That’s why Player could be ahead of those legends, as his contributions to society off the field are possibly even greater than his sporting achievements.
His Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation operates in both South Africa and the USA with the aim to impact the lives of vulnerable children.
Gary & Vivienne Player: Charity and Golf Legacy
Each year, the Gary & Vivienne Player raises millions for charity as it hosts its events.
Then of course, you have the golf achievements of Player. Turning 90 in November, Player has been a trailblazer for South African sports since the 1950s.
After turning professional in 1953, The Black Knight won his first major at The Open Championship in 1959. Six years later at the age of 29, Player had won all four majors and became the youngest to do so at the time.
Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have bettered the record of Player since.
In total, Player won nine majors with his final victory coming in the 1978 Masters.
The Importance of Fitness in Golf: Lessons from Gary Player
Nicknamed Mr Fitness, Player was the first professional golfer to vouch for the benefits of keeping strong and flexible in a sport that had not previously been seen as athletically demanding.
In fact, he was often ridiculed in his relentless pursuit of physical fitness, even later in his career. The fact that the vast majority of professional golfers now have rigorous fitness routines bears testament to the importance of being physically fit for golf.
It all emanated from the fact that Player is relatively small in build and stature.
Standing at 1.68m tall and weighing under 70kg during his prime years, Player said the first time he saw Nicklaus he knew he had to do something. As Player said: “Jack’s one leg was the size of my waist”. That meant Player was determined even more to become as strong as possible if he were to compete with the younger and physically stronger Nicklaus.
Player’s Holistic Approach to Success
Exercise became a religion of sorts for Player, and it allowed him to reach his potential that until that point had mostly rewarded pure talent and sheer strength.
As much emphasis as Player had on the physical side of the game, he also focussed on his mental approach. Player deals with this in his book - Don’t Choke: A Champion’s Guide to Winning Under Pressure.
All these aspects of Player, together, make him not one of the greatest sportspeople South Africa has ever produced but one of the most accomplished ambassadors for the country in its history.