Gary Player

Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)

Weight: 150 lb (68 kg; 11 st)

Birthday: 1 November 1935

College: –

Year turned pro: 1953

Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa

Country: South Africa

Sponsor: –

Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1935. His mother died of cancer when he was only eight years old, and his father worked away from home a lot, in the gold mines. It was Player’s father who bought him the clubs with which he played his first round of golf, when he was fourteen. It didn’t take long before he was turning professional, at the age of 17.

When he won the US Open in 1965, Player became the first non-American player to win all four majors. He was only the third player overall to achieve this career grand slam. Over his entire career, Player won nine major championships on the PGA Tour, and six major championships on the Champions Tour. Player also won three Senior British Open Championships.

Aside from his playing career, Player is renowned for being an excellent designer of golf courses. He was been involved with the design of more than 300 courses, across five separate continents. He has also put his golf knowledge to use, writing and co-writing more than thirty golf books.

Player has several different business interests which are covered by Black Knight International. These interests include Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, The Player Foundation, Gary Player Academies and Black Knight Enterprises.

Of these interests, The Player Foundation was responsible for forming the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, which provide education for more than 500 students. In all the foundation has raised more than $60 million, in over thirty years of existence.
As of the end of 2014, Player had achieved 24 wins on the PGA Tour, amassing total prize money of $1,828,296.