Gary Player is a legend in his own time. The most successful international golfer of all time, Player has achieved the kind of worldwide acclaim reserved for only a handful of sporting greats. He is, quite simply, world class.
Gary Player is renowned as much for his dedication to the principles of excellence as he is for his golfing accomplishments. He is recognized worldwide as an uncompromising perfectionist who settles for nothing but the best. His impeccable set of values, stringent regimen of health and fitness, and insistence on quality, have earned him admiration the world over.
Recognized around the globe as the Black Knight, Mr. Fitness and the International Ambassador of Golf, Gary Player is also a renowned golf course architect with over 300 design projects throughout the world. Black Knight International, the company founded by his son Marc Player, includes Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Gary Player Enterprises and The Player Foundation.
He has also been trademarked The World’s Most Traveled Athlete, but when Player is not traveling on business or playing on the Champions Tour, he spends time on his ranch in South Africa.
In an interview with Gary Player, Tilak Malaviya unplugs the champion golfer
ROLE MODELS
Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi are my spiritual mentors. Gandhi taught me the values of self-reliance and simplicity; I learned the gospel of humility and personal sacrifice from Mother Teresa; Winston Churchill embodied the merits of pugnacity and determination; and from Nelson Mandela came the virtues of patience and humanity.
FAVOURITES
Golfer: Ben Hogan
Actor: John Malkovich and Daniel Day Lewis
Actress: Catherine Zeta Jones and Charlize Theron
Movie: Dances with Wolves and Have Gun Will Travel
FAVORITE MUSIC BAND/ARTIST
Country Music. I play it to my horses 24 hours a day in the barn.
DREAM FOUR-BALL
Winston Churchill, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi
FUNNIEST GOLFING MOMENT
Definitely the "Big Three" food fight.....I remember that Arnold, Jack and I were sharing a hotel room in Canada and Arnold was on the phone with his wife Winnie. I saw a large bottle of champagne in the room and for some unknown reason I got a funny idea. I began shaking the champagne and then uncapped it and aimed it at Arnold and drenched him. Arnold then immediately got off the phone and found a large pitcher of ice tea which he picked it up and unleashed at me. I ducked and it hit Jack square and soaked him instead of me. What happened next I will never forget and still laugh about even today. The three of us had a full on wrestling match with food, beverages and basically whatever else we could find to throw at each other. I can’t remember a time when we all laughed so hard. After it was all we sheepishly went to the manager to tell him that we had a bit of a mess in their room and if he would get it cleaned and let us know what the damages were we would take care of every expense. The manager asked us for more details and after hearing our story said there would be no cost and that he wished he could have been there.
STRANGEST GOLFING MOMENT
I can’t remember the exact year, but I was playing in a tournament in Leeds, England and was ahead by 2 shots. I hit a shot and it landed next to a stone wall. After surveying the shot I knew that the only way to get it back on the green was to ricochet it off the wall. I lined up my shot, swung and the next thing I knew I was waking up with people standing over me. The shot did ricochet off the wall and then proceeded to hit me in the head and knock me out. After I came to, I realized that the ball had in fact landed on the green. I was quite pleased and calmly holed the putt for a 4 thinking that I had won the tournament. Much to my dismay, I found out later that I had been penalized 2 shots for hitting myself and ended up losing the tournament.
MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT
Winning the Grand Slam on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour
BEST SHOT EVER
My nine iron on the 16th hole at the 1972 PGA Championship. I sliced my drive and ended up in the rough behind a huge weeping willow tree. I was fortunate that the rough had been trampled down by the spectators, but my view of the pin was completely blocked by the tree and I had to deal with water in front of the green. When I hit the ball I knew that it was going to land on the green, but I had no idea it would end up only 4 feet from the cup. I went on to birdie the hole and win my second PGA Championship.
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION
My horse stud farm in South Africa and our family Christmas holiday at our beach house Plettenberg Bay.
FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE
Among my favorite golf courses are The Links at Fancourt in South Africa, Cypress Point in California and Augusta National. I always say if there is a golf course in heaven it would be Augusta National.
FAVOURITE GOLF RESORT
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE DESIGNED
It is hard to pick one. The Links at Fancourt Leopard Creek, Saadiyat Island are some of our best design work ever.
TOUGHEST GOLF COURSE/HOLE
The Open Championship courses always presented the toughest challenges for me.
By Tilak Malaviya
