Gary Player celebrates his 90th birthday. We look back at how the ‘Black Knight’ became one of golf’s greatest legends.
Gary Player turns 90. The South African, who won nine majors on both the regular and senior Champions Tour, ranks among the most successful golfers in history with a total of 18 major titles. Known for his extraordinary feel for the game, discipline, and innovative training methods, Player was decades ahead of his time and became a role model for generations of golfers. Even today, he has no plans to retire—Gary Player wants to keep playing golf as long as he can.
From South Africa to global stardom
Born in Johannesburg in 1935, Player faced challenges early in life. His father worked long hours in a gold mine, and his mother passed away from cancer when he was just eight. From that point on, he was determined to overcome every obstacle. He began playing golf at 14. Though only 1.68 meters tall, he made up for it with discipline, nutrition, and a rigorous fitness routine. At 17, without having won a tournament, he left school to pursue a professional golf career.
At 19, he won the East Rand Open in South Africa, marking the start of his international journey. That same year, he won the Egyptian Match Play Championship, funding his first British Golf Tour in 1955.
Career Grand Slam at 29
Player’s breakthrough came in 1959 when he became the youngest winner of the British Open. Always dressed in black, he earned the nickname “The Black Knight” and gained global recognition. In 1961, he focused on the PGA Tour and qualified for the Masters for the first time. That same year, he shocked the golf world by defeating Arnold Palmer to win his first major on American soil.
Setbacks never derailed him. After a 15-month winless streak, he claimed the PGA Championship in 1962. Despite injuries in the 1970s, he always bounced back. His greatest triumph came in 1965 when he won the US Open, completing the Career Grand Slam at just 29—the youngest ever at the time. Though not the biggest or most technically refined, Player had an unmatched will to win. Jack Nicklaus once said, “Gary wasn’t the best driver or iron player, and only a good