Gary Player
A global golf icon
Gary Player, a legend in the world of golf, is celebrated not only for his remarkable achievements on the course but also for his transformative influence on the sport internationally.
We had this wonderful competition among the three of us. But, at the same time, when one of us won, the other two would put their hand out and say, ‘Well done, you beat me today, but I’ll get you tomorrow.’ It was a very healthy rivalry, one of gentlemanly conduct.
Gary Player
The legacy of a champion
Gary Player is one of the most successful and influential players in golf history.
Known as the “Black Knight” for his signature black attire, the South African won nine major championships on both the PGA TOUR® and the senior PGA TOUR® Champions. He is one of only five players to have achieved the career Grand Slam by winning all four majors – the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open.
An advocate for golf globally
Gary Player’s journey in golf began in his native South Africa where he developed his skills from an early age.
Turning professional in 1953, Player quickly made his mark, capturing his first major championship at The Open in 1959. Two years later, he became the first non-American to win the Masters. He was a pioneer in his dedication to fitness and mental resilience that set new standards in professional golf and enabled him to compete at the highest level well into his later years. Player completed his career grand slam with victory at the U.S. Open in 1965. He was there at the very start of Rolex’s relationship with golf, joining great friends and rivals Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus – together they were known as The Big Three – to become the brand’s first golf Testimonees in 1967.
Player’s success, sportsmanship and relentless advocacy for the global growth of the sport earned him a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame and a reputation as a true citizen of the game.
There is perhaps no better example of his fair-mindedness than the 2003 Presidents Cup™ in South Africa where he captained the international team and Nicklaus the US outfit. With the competition tied 17-17, the captains selected Ernie Els and Tiger Woods to contest a sudden-death playoff. With the two players still tied after three extra holes, Player and Nicklaus agreed to call it a tie, the only time the Presidents Cup™ has finished without a winner.
Player amassed more than 160 victories in an illustrious career spanning six decades.
His Rolex Day-Date serves as a reminder of his Grand Slam: “When my father saw me practicing so hard and having some success, he said, ‘You keep working hard like this, one day you might even buy yourself a Rolex.’ Well, I indeed bought my first Rolex after I won the Grand Slam. It’s hard to go back 60 years in your career and remember everything identically but I remember saying, ‘Dad, I’ve got the Rolex watch.’”
Gary Player became a Rolex Testimonee in 1967.