...”
This type of attitude sums up Gary Player very well. The little fella who just didn’t know how to admit defeat, and who would try his heart out until the very end.
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Advantages: A fierce competitor and fine golfer. Disadvantages: Can be very outspoken at times.
...quite amazing. The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
This type of attitude sums up Gary Player very well. The little fella who just didn’t know how to admit defeat, and who would try his heart out until the very end.
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~ ~ This diminutive South African golfer was born in Johannesburg in 1935. Standing at only 5 foot seven inches in his bare feet, he was an unlikely candidate to go on to achieve greatness in the world of golf, where the ability to hit the ball a long way is at a premium, especially on the Pro Circuit.
~ ~ But from a very young age Player embarked on a daily exercise regime that allowed him to make the very most of his small stature, and which he continues to follow to this day, even at nearly 66 years-of-age, and with his “glory” years long in the past.
~ ~ That there were “glory” years is without question. Player was in his prime at the same time as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the two US golfing legends, and throughout his career had many formidable battles with both, on many occasions emerging victorious. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, these three golfers were hailed as the “Big Three”, and practically dominated world golf in this period.
~ ~ Player won no fewer than nine Major titles in his distinguished career, the first being the British Open at Muirfield, Scotland in 1959, and the last being the US Masters at Augusta, Georgia in 1978, at nearly 43 years old, at that time the oldest golfer to ever win the title. (This was later beaten by Nicklaus, who won the Masters in 1986, at 46 years of age!) In total he won the British Open three times, the US Masters three times, the USPGA title twice, and the US Open once. In between he notched up 21 other wins on the US Tour, and won many titles all over the world, where he was a roving ambassador for South Africa, who at that time were still outcasts in the sporting world because of their policy of apartheid.
~ ~ One of his most famous victories came in the World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth, England in 1965, when he came back from being seven down with only seventeen holes remaining, to beat the great Tony Lema on the last green. Asked what had inspired his victory, he said he had overheard two spectators writing off his chances of victory, and that this had infuriated him and spurred him into action. He was also the first golfer ever to break 60 in an official Tour event, when he carded a 59 in the Brazilian Open of 1974.
~ ~ Since retiring from the main tour, Player has gone on to carve out a very lucrative second career on the US Seniors Tour, where he went on to win the Senior’s equivalent of the four Majors, the only golfer ever to have achieved this. I have watched him play at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland in recent years in the Senior’s British Open, and he is still a marvellous golfer despite his advancing years, his fitness levels shaming players half his age.
~ ~ One of his most famous quotes came after his only win in the US Open in 1965. A member of the media had the temerity to suggest that he had “got lucky” during one of rounds. Player replied, “You know, it’s quite amazing. The more I practice, the luckier I get.” This type of attitude sums up Gary Player very well. The little fella who just didn’t know how to admit defeat, and who would try his heart out until the very end.
Advantages: Continually improved throughout his career Disadvantages: He was a lot shorter than his rivals so he couldn't match the likes of Nicklaus for distance.
...that he was lucky
Gary Player could hole a chip or bunker shot or play a ball dead by the hole side. No fluke was involved. The results were achieved only with remorseless practice. For both these shots Player has a method that may be unique. The stroke is a downward stab. His short game has remained Player’s great strength over a career which has lasted over 40 years, more than 25 of those seeing him contend for and win major championships. ... ...for fun. Opinion was that Gary had a hooker’s grip, that his swing was too flat and that he lacked rhythm and feel for the game. Perhaps unnoticed was the effectiveness of that stab on the short shots. You could say that he was the first great golfer to expect to get down in 2 more once he was near the green.
Another first for Player was the emphasis he pt on physical fitness and diet. Before his time, most golfers considered that just playing ...
rawduu 07.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gary Player
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