Gary Player is one of golf’s greatest legends, and during his time, he racked up 22 PGA Tour wins, tied for seventh highest wins all-time. He has won a total of nine golf majors in his career, three of which were the Masters. These wins happened in the 1961, 1974, and 1978 editions of the major championships. Despite being one of the most famous names in Masters history, Player recently disclosed how he was refused to play at Augusta National.
The legendary golfer discussed the incident in an interview with Golf Monthly, alleging that he wanted to play fourball golf with his three grandsons at Augusta National but was denied the opportunity to play even one round. He added that he intended to tell his grandsons stories about his tremendous triumphs on the course while playing a round with them, but the great course’s management did not allow it.
Gary Player even claimed that he will always accept a no like this with sadness. The South-African golfer explained,
“I have been an ambassador for Augusta for all these years, yet they won’t let me have one round of golf in my life with my three grandsons. My grandsons are dying to know about their grandfather’s episodes on that golf course. All the golf courses that have hosted the Open, the US Open, and the PGA would oblige, but they won’t do it at Augusta. It is just this current management there, but these are the times we live in, and I accept it, but I accept it with sadness.”
The renowned golfer further stated that Augusta National is unquestionably a highlight of his career, and that walking on the course makes him feel a bit different.
Gary Player describes Augusta National as “a golf course in heaven”
Gary Player also talked about his thoughts on Augusta National in the same Golf Monthly interview. He claims that when he walks on the course, he feels as if he is on a course in heaven. Player went on to say that Arnold Palmer, himself, and Jack Nicklaus were the ones who played consistently every season and helped make Augusta what it is today. The 90-year-old legend said,
“When I go there, I feel I am walking onto a golf course in Heaven. I tread very carefully, and I love Augusta so much, but I don’t like all the rules….Then Arnold, Jack, and I came along, and we fought it out every year, and then we made Augusta thanks to the coverage and publicity we generated around the Masters, whether the club likes to admit it or not. They won’t admit it, but we made Augusta.”
Later, the golfer also admitted that this is his opinion, and people can have their own opinion. Gary Player won his first Masters in 1961, becoming the first non-American winner of the green jacket.
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