- Gary Player is a retired professional golfer from South Africa who achieved a lot during his playing days
- A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Player won over 150 professional tournaments on six continents in over seven decades
- Some of his individual achievements and awards include PTA Tour leading money winner 1961, PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 and Presidential Medal of Freedom 2021
The biography of Gary Player is worth a read by every golf fan considering he is one of the greatest golfers the world has ever seen.
Gary Player is a retired professional golfer from South Africa who achieved a lot during his playing days. The 87-year-old won over 150 professional tournaments on six continents in over seven decades. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1976.
Gary Player. Photo/ Daily Express.
Some of his individual achievements and awards include PTA Tour leading money winner 1961, PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award 2012 and Presidential Medal of Freedom 2021. Check out Gary Player biography among other things on this read.
Gary Player Biography
Full name |
Gary James Player |
Age |
87 |
Height |
1.68 m |
Place of birth |
Johannesburg, South Africa |
Date of birth |
1 November 1945 |
Nationality |
South African |
Occupation |
Golf player |
Source of wealth |
Golf |
Marital status |
Married |
Career
Gary Player began playing golf at a very young age. Player’s father worked in gold mines and took a loan to buy his son a set of clubs to support his dreams.
During his early years, Player practiced his golf technique at the Virginia Park golf course in Johannesburg. He was 14 years old when he played his first rounds of golf. He turned professional at the age of 17 in 1953.
Four years later, Gary Player joined the PGA Tour. He recorded his first PGA Tour event win the following year in the Kentucky Derby Open. The South African player registered back to back wins in 1961 by claiming the Lucky International Open in January and the Sunshine Open Invitational in March.
Gary Player biography. Essentially Sports.
At the 1962 PGA Championship, Player defeated Bob Goalby to win the title. He won many matches during the 1960s, including the U.S. Open in 1965 and The Open Championship in 1968.
While at the peak of his career, Gary Player competed with some of golf’s finest players such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The three dominated the sport and later became known as “The Big Three” golfers.
Gary Palmer was still a top player in the 1980s and the 1990s. Some of his favourite championships include the South African Open and the Australian Open. No golfer in the history of the game has won more titles than him at these events.
Salary
To further your interest in reading Gary Player biography we take a look at his earnings on this part. According to the website Sportskeeda, Player has an annual income of about $20 million. Even though he no longer plays professionally, Player’s main source of income is still golf.
Net Worth
Apart from being one of the most prominent names in golf, Gary Player is also one of the richest golfers in the world. Several sources on the internet such as Celebrity Net Worth, estimate the legendary golfer’s net worth to be $250 million as of 2023.
Luxurious Lifestyle
Gary Player lives a luxurious lifestyle thanks to his massive net worth. The South African player lives in Johannesburg in a luxury penthouse. He also has other properties in the United States, including a 6,900 square feet five bedroom with six bathrooms in South Karolina.
Player’s garage has some of the most exclusive cars in the world. Some of the cars the legendary golfer owns include 2017 Mercedes GLE 350d, Austin-Healey 3000, Cadilac Coupe De Ville and Mercedes S-class.
Personal Life
Moving on with Gary Player biography we take a look at his personal life on this part. Player was born on 1 November 1945, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the youngest of three children born to Harry and Muriel Player. His mother died from cancer when he was eight years old.
On 19 January 1957, Gary Player married Vivienne Verwey, the sister of fellow professional golfer Bobby Verwey. Player and Vivienne had six children together.
FAQs
How old is Gary Player now?
Gary Player is currently 87 years old.
What is the net worth of Gary Player?
$250 million.
What happened to Gary Player?
Player retired from golf in 2009.
What is Gary Player doing now?
Today, he is an ambassador for the Saudi energy giant Aramco.
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