What a Player

Amid the attention focussed on Tiger Woods’ effort to try to kindle a single-season Grand Slam at the US Open followed by the highs and lows of Retief Goosen a significant achievement was all but forgotten – the 40th anniversary of Gary Player’s Grand Slam.

The fact that Player is inarguably South Africa’s greatest sportsman is often obscured by the glut of marvellous sport available on television but I well remember the thrill of reading of his victory in the 1965 US Open.

Player became the first non-American in 45 years to win the US Open by defeating Australia’s Kel Nagle in an 18-hole play-off at the Bellerive Country Club in St Louis and it made him the third golfer in history, after Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan, to win all four major championships. (Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have also subsequently completed the Grand Slam)

Player was 30 years old and had won his four titles in a span of just seven years. Now he is approaching his 70th birthday (on November 1) and it is unlikely that his incredible record will ever be surpassed.

He travelled more miles in search of his goals than anyone who has ever lived and won more than 150 world-wide titles.

This list includes nine major championships (British Open 1959, 1968, 1974; US Open 1965, US Masters 1961, 1974, 1978; US PGA 1962, 1972), 13 South African Opens, 7 Australian Opens, 5 World Match Play titles and 2 World Cup individual titles.

Golf has obviously become more competitive but it is well to be reminded of not only his incredible accomplishments but also his amazing longevity.