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The Wisdom Of Gary Player

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Gary Player has won 167 professional tournaments in 15 countries, including nine major championships on the regular tour and six on the Champions tour. He's one of five players to capture the career Grand Slam. He has designed 400 courses worldwide. Through the Player Foundation, he has raised more than $50 million for charity. One of the extraordinary people in golf history has given Golf Digest memorable advice over the years. Here we present some of his best. — Alan P. Pittman

I played with so many golfers who were way better than me, but I won majors and they didn't. The swing is not the thing. The mind gets you out of a bind.

Try to get winded 10 minutes a day. Whether it's climbing stairs in your house, riding an exercise bike or jumping rope, the key is to get at least slightly out of breath for 10 minutes. It's practically impossible to be badly out of shape if you do this each and every day.

For more tips from pros and top teachers, check out Golf Digest Schools.

I can beat most 30-year-olds in the gym at my age. I don't see myself as old. I look at myself as young. The more you exercise, the better you feel, and the more you can do for this country.

Be smart about lifting weights. When other players first saw my weight-training program back in the 1950s, they thought I was crazy. Frank Stranahan, a terrific amateur player, and I were the only ones doing it. In fact, lifting weights has made me a better golfer. Two suggestions: First, bench presses are very popular, but I still prefer old-fashioned push-ups to strengthen the chest. Second, do your weight training in the evening, and follow it with a shower—cold water, then hot. This will help your body recover faster, so you aren't as stiff the next day.

Develop both sides of your body. The perfect golfer would look like Popeye: thin waist, powerful legs, huge forearms, with the left and right sides equally strong. When you perform any repetitive motion like the golf swing, it's important to strengthen the corresponding muscle groups. Swinging a weighted club is a great exercise, but if you're right-handed, make the same number of swings left-handed. This will keep your back and hips in balance and prevent injury.

Focus on your hands and wrists. Henry Cotton once told me your hands, fingers and wrists can never be too strong. Hitting practice balls will work out your hands, but you want to do special exercises, too. Suspending free weights using your thumb and each finger individually helps.

The best way to break out of a slump is to pretend you're a player whose swing is rhythmic and beautiful. I fell into a terrible slump in 1973, and I recovered just that way. I watched Christy O'Connor at the British Open and stamped his sing-song swing on my mind. For the next few months, I actually pretended I was him. The following April, I won the Masters, then took the British Open in July.

THE BEST PUTTER ALWAYS WINS. GOLF SHOULD BE RENAMED “MIND AND PUTTING.”

The secret to chipping is to stand a little wide, shift your weight slightly forward, set the club and "light the match." By that I mean you want to accelerate a little at impact the way you'd light a match.

Good vision is underrated. Your eyes influence everything in golf. I wish my eyes were in as good of shape as the rest of my body; it's my only sign of aging. In my business, three yards might as well be a mile.

You can tell a good bunker shot by the sound. From powdery sand, you want a "poof." From coarser sand, it should sound like you're tearing a linen sheet in half. Strive to make the right sound, and you'll be surprised at how fast you improve.

Get energy from younger people. I try to play golf with younger people, the fitter the better. I think you tend to take on the characteristics of the individuals you spend the most time with. Doing activities with young, healthy people has had a way of making me rise to their level. The best traits of young people—their optimism, curiosity, alertness and energy—are contagious.

Golf is the game for a lifetime, but that lifetime will be shorter if you're overweight.

Eat super foods. The biggest technological advance in golf in the next 50 years won't be equipment or exercise. It'll be nutrition. Pro athletes will have "super diets" and will avoid starches, sugar and most of the commercial foods available today, which are loaded with all kinds of steroids and pesticides. Common examples of super foods are raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole-grain breads, avocado and yogurt.

RELATED: 17 Super Foods That Make Easy On-Course Snacks

The worst single food in the world is bacon, because it's pure animal fat. But I have a piece on occasion. I'm not a martyr.

Work on your core. Strengthen your core muscles, your stomach especially. I've always felt that my core essentially holds my body together and prevents back injuries. I still do sit-ups. I can do hundreds in a day as long as I break them up into two or three sessions.

A golfer chokes because he fears being exposed for something less than he really is.

Why did Jack Nicklaus, the greatest player in history, change his swing every other week? We're always chopping and changing. Golf is a puzzle without an answer.

RELATED: Watch Gary Player do squats with Instagram model on his back

Photo by Don Morley/Allsport/Getty Images

WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS

Interview with Gary Player

Backgrounder --

Known as the International Ambassador of Golf, Gary Player won 24 times on the PGA Tour and 19 times on the Champions Tour, including nine majors and nine senior majors. He is one of only five golfers to have achieved the career Grand Slam by winning all four of golf’s majors.

In a career spanning seven decades and with 165 worldwide victories, Player has received numerous awards and accolades. In 1966, he was awarded the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. And in 2000, voted "Sportsman of the 20th Century" in South Africa and, in 2006, received the Payne Stewart Award from the PGA Tour.

In 2012, Player received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first international golfer to receive this accolade. And in his home country, South African President Thabo Mbeki bestowed the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold) on Player in 2013 for exceptional achievements in sport.

In addition, Player was recently bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, becoming along with golfer Annika Sorenstam, the first two international athletes to receive the prestigious award, and joining other previous golfers having won the award including Arnold Palmer, Charlie Sifford, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

The Player Story --

“I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be recognized in this way,” said Player. “For Annika and I to join Jack and Arnie, Charlie Sifford and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have been awarded this honor is really very special.”

Player went on to say that to be honored, not only for his success as a golfer, but also as a philanthropist who works tirelessly in the United States and around the world to raise funds for children’s education and other causes, is overwhelming . “I have been fortunate to have had much success in golf and to be a worldwide ambassador for the game, but it is my love of fellow humans that has inspired me to keep traveling and doing what I can to unite people and raise funds for those desperately in need.

“While remaining a proud South African, I have always been astonished by the love and support that I have received from the American people. As an international athlete, to receive the highest honor awarded to civilians in the United States is humbling indeed and I will cherish this award from the President.”

Interview with Gary Player, The Black Knight at 84

You wake up in the morning -- what's the driving passion at 84 years of age?

Last night thousands of people died around the world. Thank Thee Dear Lord that I a have another day. I love life, I love people and I hope that I can do a good turn today.

Upon receiving the news of your selection as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom you stated it is the highest honor in your lifetime -- can you elaborate on that?

To win 18 majors and 165 tournaments is significant, but pales in importance compared to the efforts that I have made to change people’s lives around the world. Freedom is one of the greatest gifts we have. Millions have died for us to enjoy it and billions have never tasted of its fruits.

Your greatest achievement in golf is what? Is it being one of five men to have won the career Grand Slam or something else?

I am the only man in history to have won 9 majors on the regular tour and 9 on the champions tour. I am eternally grateful for Golf that has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams in Philanthropy.

That feeling when you find out you're receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom! Congratulations to 1965 #USOpen champion @GaryPlayer ! pic.twitter.com/Y9E5pKimi9 — U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) March 8, 2020

You were one of the three members of the famed threesome that included Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. What was the driving ingredient that sustained the relationship over many years and what do you miss the most from your time together?

Being three of the fiercest competitors you could find, and a burning determination to beat each other in the right spirit, plus our respected friendship. I miss Arnie but I continue to enjoy my close friendship with Jack.

Golf will once be played in the Olympics this year in Tokyo but there have been some recent announcements -- notably Dustin Johnson and quite possibly Tiger Woods opting out from being considered for the event. Can the Olympics make a significant difference in expanding the reach of the sport and do the best players in golf need to lend their support by participating if qualified to do so?

I would never have turned down the opportunity to play in the Olympics and represent my country. The coverage of Golf will reach people who know very little about the game and encourage the sport to flourish. After all it is the largest sporting event in the world.

If you could go back over your playing career and have one mulligan in what event and what specific situation would you most like to have another opportunity to rectify?

At Augusta in 1962 I was 2 shots ahead of Arnie, 3 holes to play. He holed a 65-footer on the 16th and 25-footer on 17th for us to tie the tournament. I would like to have my 12-footer on the 16th hole as a mulligan. If you don’t mind I would like two mulligans! When Billy Casper won the Masters, I had a 6-iron on the last hole to birdie to win, par to tie. I hit a great shot but got buried in the trap 12 feet from the flag and bogeyed the hole.

If you could change one thing in golf unilaterally -- what would it be and why?

No long putters for pros because nerves are an integral part of golf. Secondly not to leave the flag in the hole when you are putting because people are tearing the holes to pieces, squeezing their hands in the holes.

The major golf organizations -- USGA, R&A, PGA of America, PGA and European Tours, LPGA -- are all seeking ways to attract Millennials, women and minorities to the sport. If you were counseling them what you advise they be doing now?

I think the major golf organizations are all doing a great job. We all need to continually look for ways to make golf more accessible and affordable. Every young person I meet I tell them that golf is the passport to the world and that they can play it effectively for the rest of their lives.

The most underrated player you competed against was who?

Tom Weiskopf.

In order of stature -- rate the major championships in order?

The British Open, Masters. US Open and PGA are tie, but they are all close!

Your all-time greatest player foursome includes who?

Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ghandi and Mother Theresa

If you were playing in this era and having the benefit in using today's equipment would your total number of majors and PGA TOUR wins be the same or even greater?

Definitely more! Hard to hit the ball off-line with today’s equipment. I have broken my age well over 2000 times and with the old equipment I couldn't have done that. Don't forget traveling without jets played a large part, plus perfect greens and bunkers that are exactly the same all over the world today.

Tiger Woods was just chosen to be in the next inductees for golf's Hall of Fame. Is there any non-member who you believe should be included for such an honor?

Dave Stockton.

What's your take on the proposed Premier Golf League? Does it matter that the bulk of the money is coming from Saudi Arabia?

I think it's a terrible idea. We owe our loyalty to the PGAs who have done most of the work to get golf where it is today. Don't forget the R&A and the USGA. I feel there is a sense of greed brewing among certain players. I was proud of Rory McIlroy's answer.

Should the USGA and R&A reduce the distance golf balls travel. Jack Nicklaus has long advocated as much.

I was recommending this before Nicklaus. It is going to make the game obsolete.They are going to drive the first green of Augusta and hit wedges to the par 5s.There are people that can drive the first green now. We can't make golf courses longer anymore. We are running out of water. Machinery is expensive. Extra labor. Excessive fertilizer. We are making the golf courses virtually unplayable for the members who are the most important part of the game, not the pros. Plus making the courses longer makes the game slower. Merion, a short golf course was a great test in the majors, high rough and firm greens.

Given all the miles you have flown globally -- you must have a status with the airlines that's second to none!

I have loved flying, many airlines have been very kind to me, but I have a special affinity for Delta.

Best advice you ever received -- what was it and who from?

Parental guidance on honoring your mother and your father, having faith and working hard.

Complete the sentence -- Gary Player is –

A man who loves all people, actively contributes to society and leaves the world a better place.

About M. James Ward

A GWAA and MGWA member, the 66-year-old from the USA has covered golf in all facets since 1980, notably the major championships and other high level events. He has played over 2,000 courses globally and has competed in USGA Championships.

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Champions Tour Major Winners

November 20, 2018

GARY PLAYER’S SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES RECOGNIZED AS MAJORS BY THE PGA TOUR IN USA

As a three-time winner of the Senior Open, Gary Player will now officially be recognized as a nine-time Senior Major champion by the PGA Tour and the PGA Champions Tour as he has always been by the remainder of the golfing world.

The Asian & European Tours, R&A and World Golf Hall of Fame already recognized the Senior Open Championship as a Senior Major, but now the PGA Tour and Champions Tour in the USA will at last join golf’s most influential bodies in honoring all Senior Open wins as Major victories, rather than only accepting those won after 2002. As such, the PGA Tour will now join the golfing world in acknowledging that Gary Player won nine Senior Majors, in addition to his nine Majors on the regular tour. Player remains the only golfer to win the career Grand Slam on both tours.

Player won the Senior Open Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1997. However, the PGA Tour previously only acknowledged Senior Open Championship wins after 2002 as official Major championships in the United States. This meant that the PGA Tour and Champions Tour only considered Player to have won six Senior Majors.

Player has worked to have his record set straight in the USA, consistently maintaining his record of nine Senior Majors in interviews and profiles. He has argued that all Senior Open victories should count and countered all excuses otherwise. He felt that precedent had been made when The Open Championship itself had also been made retroactive by the PGA Tour previously as well.

In one such discussion of the Major Championship records Player said, “Every tournament has to start somewhere, and then evolves. The Masters in 1934 was not what it is today, but every player who has won it is recognized as a Major winner. I remember Arnold Palmer telling me it was ‘bullsh–’ that the Senior Open Championship wasn’t an official major in the states. He so regretted not winning the Senior Open Championship when he was playing senior golf.”

But why does Gary Player, one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game, care about three Senior Open wins? He did not bring his family out of poverty as a young man by staying satisfied with the status quo. Everything in his life was and is still earned – including his nine Senior Major Championships of which he is so proud.

Player said, “What I have learned about myself is that I am an animal when it comes to hard work, achievement and success. There can never be enough for me.”

In response to the PGA Tour Policy Board’s decision, the Black Knight said, “I am thrilled to have my record officially acknowledged by the PGA Tour in America. I consider myself a global player who supports golf around the world. To finally have all of golf’s major governing bodies and tours recognize one of my proudest accomplishments means so much and I thank Commissioner Jay Monahan and the board with great appreciation.”

This change will also give 10 other players one, and in a few cases two, more senior majors to their names. These players include Christy O’Connor Jr., Sir Bob Charles, and Brian Barnes who all won twice, as well as Noboru Sugai, Ian Stanley, Brian Huggett, Tom Wargo, John Fourie, Bobby Verwey, and Neil Coles.

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The Breathtaking Shots of Gary Player

He won the P.G.A. Championship twice and his 150-yard shot in 1972 is still talked about. But Player said he was proudest of one he hit at the 1968 British Open.

A man dressed in all black looking up as he holds a golf club. A man is standing behind him wearing a white bucket hat and a red jacket.

By Michael Arkush

Gary Player of South Africa, a nine-time major winner, captured the P.G.A. Championship in 1962 and 1972 and made an impressive run for a third crown in 1984 at age 48, finishing second to Lee Trevino.

In 1972 , at Oakland Hills Country Club outside Detroit, Player rebounded from bogeys at 14 and 15 to pull off one of the more memorable shots in tournament history: a 9-iron approach on No. 16 from about 150 yards that went over trees and a lake to within about four feet of the pin. He converted the birdie putt and went on to prevail by two strokes.

With this year’s event beginning on Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., Player, 88, recently reflected on what the P.G.A. meant to him.

The following conversation has been edited and condensed.

Was the shot at 16 the greatest one you ever hit?

No. The greatest shot I ever hit was in the [1968] British Open [at Carnoustie in Scotland.] The wind’s blowing like crazy and I’m playing with Jack Nicklaus. I take the 3-wood [on No. 14] and hit it inches from the hole.

Another one was the second shot on 17 in the 1974 Masters?

My caddie said to me when I arrived [at the ball], “I need a roof on my house.” I said, “We’re going to get you a roof this week.” As I hit the 9-iron, I just took the club and gently tossed it towards that bag and said, “We’re not even going to need a putter.” It was inches behind the hole.

What do you remember about the 1962 P.G.A. at the Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia?

Bob Goalby and I had a great battle down to the end. They made me an honorary member and I go to Philly for a month every year and play a lot with the members.

The 1984 P.G.A. Championship would have been a heck of a win for you?

Yeah, that would have been. At that stage, Julius Boros [also 48] was the oldest man to win a major and still was until Phil Mickelson [at age 50 in the 2021 P.G.A.].

Do you feel the P.G.A. gets enough respect among the four majors?

I rate the British Open No. 1, the United States Open No. 2, the P.G.A. No. 3 and the Masters No. 4.

You rate the P.G.A. over the Masters?

A lot of people consider the P.G.A. the least important major. Why do they believe that?

I don’t know why. First of all, it’s the toughest field of any field in golf. That’s pretty significant, if you beat the best field in golf. Also, I’m a professional golfer. The P.G.A. of America fulfilled my dream. Not only mine, but everybody that plays.

What do you think of the current run of Scottie Scheffler, who has won four tournaments since early March, including the Masters?

Fantastic. He’s a very nice man. He’s got a perfect golf swing. He gets all his weight going to the left side and that is the most important thing. He does that better than others.

Do you think the game is better off when there is a dominant player?

What happens when you have people dominating is you get tremendous coverage. If you look at the coverage that Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and I got for the tour, it’s unbelievable. Not only here but worldwide. You will always have somebody come along and dominate, and I think that’s very important.

When you play with friends, do you love the game as much as ever?

People say to me, “How much do you play?” I say, “Four to five times a week.” And if that doesn’t tell you how much I love it, then I don’t know. I love going out with my friends. I love playing with juniors. I could play every day.

What’s your game like these days?

I average par. I’ve beaten my age thousands of times. Trevino says to me, “What’s so good about that? You [can] shoot 16 over par to beat your age. When you get to 100 and you beat your age, then I’ll praise you.”

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Gary Player: Continued Commitment Key to Sustained Success

Chronicles unseen.

It is difficult to think of a competitor in any sport who epitomises the value of hard work more clearly than the great Gary Player.

T he only man in the last century to have won The Open in three different decades, the Champion Golfer of the Year in 1959, 1968 and 1974 enjoyed a glorious professional career notable not only for its numerous successes but also its extraordinary longevity.

When Player first participated in golf’s original major as a 20-year-old, Henry Cotton and Gene Sarazen were among his fellow competitors. By the time he made his final appearance at The Open in 2001, aged 65, Tiger Woods was the biggest star in the sport.

Yet while there have been countless significant changes in golf since Player first emerged on the global scene in the mid-1950s, the South African’s relentless commitment to self-improvement and physical fitness has never wavered once.

That dedication understandably emerges as a recurring theme when the nine-time major-winner looks back on his glorious relationship with The Open, a Championship he has played in a record 46 times.

Long before he had achieved his childhood ambition of becoming a professional golfer, the tenacity and resilience that would come to define him was forged with the aid of his elder brother, Ian.

After being asked by Ian, who went on to become a leading conservationist, what he would like to do when he grew up, a young Gary replied: ‘I’d like to be a professional sportsman of some kind’. His sibling’s reply had a lasting impact.

“You’re very small in stature and you’ll have to get stronger,” Gary Player recalls his brother stating. “I’ve bought this second-hand set of weights for you. Promise me you’ll exercise until the day you do (get stronger).”

It is safe to say a man who counts ‘Mr Fitness’ among his many nicknames certainly followed the advice. Even into his 80s, Player has remained resolutely committed to keeping in superb shape, with the demanding nature of his daily workouts the stuff of legend.

“There were a lot of things that he said to me,” Player said of his brother as he continued to recall memories of his childhood in Johannesburg.

“(He would say), ‘Come on, if you can do so many push-ups, you’ve got to realise you’re going to have pain. You’ve got to be able to sit in front of the mirror in a Tai Chi position and learn to slap your face and associate it with playing under strain and coming down the line, when you’ve got to have the perfect mind and the strength and the courage to win. And so you’ve got to associate that pain that you’re getting (with a positive outcome)’.

“I remember hitting myself in the face at least 30 times until I was genuinely sore and I made the association with coming down the line. This is the type of thing that I did. I went into the Champions Tour at 50 almost as fit as when I was 25 and that stood me in good stead and that’s why I was able to win nine majors and the Grand Slam on the Senior Tour.”

Player’s zeal for fitness has reaped rich rewards, but it was not always clear to everyone that he was destined to achieve such sustained success.

As a 20-year-old making his way in the game, he encountered criticism of his methods and was grateful for some timely reassurance from a man already firmly established as a golfing colossus.

“I played in 1956 at Sunningdale and I won the Dunlop Tournament and I shot 64, 64, 68, 70, 72, which beat Bobby Jones’ record at the time. And I beat a man called Arthur Lees who nobody had ever beaten at his home club at Sunningdale,” explained Player. “I left after that to come to America and I was fortunate enough to play with Ben Hogan in a tournament.

“Hogan was a man of very few words and he said, ‘well done on your achievement in England’. I said, ‘thank you, Mr Hogan’. And I said, ‘I was a little despondent because, even after winning, a lot of the pros said Gary Player should go back to South Africa. His swing is so flat, he’ll never last’.

“He looked at me, right in the eyes, and he said, ‘you can’t be too flat’. And that was very encouraging to hear. (There were) people who knew a hell of a lot about nothing saying that my swing was too flat and here was the man who’d hit more balls than any man who had ever lived and was the best player that any man has seen from tee to green and knew more about the golf swing (than anyone). And he turned around and gave me this encouragement – you can’t be too flat, as long as your hands are under the club. So that was very encouraging for me.”

H ogan’s words were certainly far more complimentary than those Player had experienced on his first visit to St Andrews in 1955, a year before his Open debut.

Even for a man who would go on to demonstrate an iron will in the most exacting situations, a first taste of the Old Course proved a daunting experience.

“Teeing off at St Andrews, you can imagine the first time how nervous I was,” said Player.

“The fairway is so wide. And I hit this little shot and I hooked it and it was going out of bounds and it hit the stake, that little pole on the road, and it bounced back on the fairway. I was so relieved.”

The inauspicious opening shot prompted an enquiry from the local starter regarding Player’s name and handicap.

When Player told his interrogator he was a professional, he recalls hearing the reply: “You must be a great chipper and putter, because you cannae hit the ball very well, laddie!”

Picking up the story, a beaming Player said: “And wouldn’t you believe, (by 1959) I’m the youngest man to win The Open (in the 20th century) and I come back a few years later and he sees me and he says, ‘It’s a mirage, it’s nae possible, in fact it’s a bloody miracle!’”

I f some people were not convinced of Player’s potential in the early years of his career, it was not long before his tremendous work ethic led to consistent success and removed any doubt over his ability to flourish at the highest level.

After securing an impressive fourth-place finish on his first appearance in The Open, at Royal Liverpool in 1956, he claimed the Claret Jug just three years later at Muirfield, finishing two strokes clear of Fred Bullock and Flory van Donck.

Player feared he had blown his chance when he double-bogeyed the 72nd hole in strong winds, but a final-round 68 was ultimately enough to secure victory for a man who had long since dreamed of winning golf’s original Championship.

“It came from my father. It came from the massive publicity that The Open Championship had in South Africa,” said Player when detailing his passion for the tournament.

“There was such a large section of our population that came from Britain so it had a very big influence, particularly in the golfing circles. And Bobby Locke, who won The Open four times, you know I can always see him standing there with a trophy, immaculately dressed.”

It had taken Player a mere nine appearances to emulate Locke by becoming the second South African to win a major. Yet he was only just getting started.

Over the next 19 years, he would claim a further eight victories in golf’s premier strokeplay events, including further Open Championship successes at Carnoustie in 1968 and Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1974.

Only three men – Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Walter Hagen – have recorded more major wins than Player, while he is also among the elite band of five players to have completed the career Grand Slam by winning The Open, U.S. Open, US PGA Championship and the Masters.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given his passion for hard work and conquering the toughest challenges, the ‘Black Knight’ is in no doubt as to which event he values most.

“If you said to me, pick one tournament in the world that you would like to win, I would take The Open first,” said Player. “It’s still, for me, the best tournament in the world. The Open Championship is, without a question, the greatest challenge of any tournament on this planet."

A jubilant Player poses with the Claret Jug following his second Open win at Carnoustie

“T he weather in The Open Championship is always more effective than other championships because usually you have the rough that is longer, you have bunkers that have straight faces, where sometimes you go against the face and you cannot play forward, you’ve got to play it sideways or backwards. The greens are not always soft like they are in the United States, where the green receives the ball in a different manner.

“It’s a different game, weather conditions in The Open are always tougher, and it’s not as though it’s consistent, it can be blowing in the morning or raining and perfect in the afternoon, or vice versa. Four seasons in one day. You get an early morning time and you play in the sunshine and your fellow pro tees off at 12 o’clock and he’s playing in a strong wind. And if you feel sorry for yourself, you might as well pack your bags and leave.

“So it takes a very special person to win The Open Championship compared to the other tournaments. It’s steeped in tradition. If you look at The R&A, having been there all those years and what they’ve done for the game of golf, it’s quite remarkable. I have such admiration for The R&A and the USGA and the PGA and all the golf associations, because you get people there that dedicate a certain time of their lives for the betterment of golf.

“And golf is this most incredible sport that helps you realise that great shots (can) end up in sheer disaster. You have got to have extraordinary patience, you have got to have courage.

“I have no hesitation in saying it is the truest test of the four major championships. Having won nine, I should be able to have an idea. The Open Championship is the truest test.”

Although Player’s love for The Open dates back to his childhood, the modern-day Championship is clearly a much different event to the competition he first experienced in 1956.

Golf’s development and growth in the intervening years is a source of great delight for Player, who takes pride from seeing the dedication of today’s players rewarded with much greater prizes.

Highlighting the progress that has been made since he first competed on tour, Player said: “A young man came along from Slazenger and said ‘here are your three balls for the week’. Now they give you three or four dozen! They give you a free driver, they give you free phone calls anywhere in the world, free food, a courtesy car driver that meets you, massages, gymnasium, travelling gymnasium, etc.

“I tell you one thing, it’s a different world than when Ben Hogan and Sam Snead and Bobby Jones played, a very, very different world. Now imagine those three players with jets and a million dollar prize every week, no spike marks on the green, raking the bunkers with a machine instead of your feet. When I first went to Muirfield in 1959, there were daisies on the fairway every year. Every year there were daisies on the fairway. They didn’t have machines that could cut it that short. So it’s a different world and thank goodness we’re making progress.

Player in action at Royal Birkdale in 1965

“W e were playing at The Open a few years ago and I was playing on a golf course adjacent to the Championship venue and the players came in from overseas in their private jets and then after that the caddies came in and then the small planes. And I just looked at this in utter amazement and thought, ‘Gee, how the game has changed for the better’, which is wonderful. I thought to myself, what a difference to when I first went to The Open, a travelling tourist with my King Edward’s honours tie on in the aeroplane, sitting there looking out of the window, taking 20 hours to get to Britain in a Constellation – no jets, no business class.”

Player, of course, has seen his own life change considerably from those times when a trip from South Africa to the United Kingdom took the best part of a full day.

In addition to becoming one of the biggest sporting stars on the planet, he has travelled the world extensively and continues to do so to this day, while The Player Foundation – established in 1983 by his son, Marc - has raised over $64million for impoverished children.

“I’ve had a very fascinating life, from one extreme to the other, from struggling to all the fame, to a reasonable amount of wealth, to great happiness, to farming, which is my great love,” he stated.

“Whether it’s picking up manure in the stable or putting up a fence or working on my own private golf course, whatever it may be, it’s been a life that I have been very blessed with and I think the word that comes to mind every day of my life is gratitude.

“I wanted to try to achieve more than just being a golfer. I wanted to contribute to society. I’ve been fortunate to have travelled more miles than any man that has ever lived, over 60 years of continuous flying, raising money for underprivileged children around the world, meeting leaders and playing golf or visiting the White House or dinners with the presidents, the Emirs in the Middle East, the Royal Family, prime ministers, and also the villages of Africa where I’m dining with people that have very little. I learned so much from them.

“So I’ve had a greater desire than just being a professional golfer and I think I’m achieving (that) as time goes by.”

When it comes to matters on the course, Player takes particular pride from the fact he was able to win The Open in the 1950s, 60s and 70s - a statistic that typifies his enduring success at the highest level.

The Champion Golfer at Muirfield in 1959 held off competition from a stellar field to triumph again at Carnoustie in 1968. An eagle at the 14th in the final round proved key to Player’s success on that occasion, as he finished two strokes clear of Nicklaus and Bob Charles with an aggregate score of one over.

Six years later, he produced a majestic performance at Royal Lytham & St Annes to move six shots clear of the field through 70 holes. Although he subsequently got into trouble at the 17th and 18th, it mattered little as he won by four to reclaim the Claret Jug and accomplish an outstanding feat.

Fans watch on as Player and his caddie, Alfred 'Rabbit' Dyer, line up a putt in The 1974 Open Championship

“I was in a great frame of mind. I realised I had the chance to be the first man to win The Open over three different decades (in the 20th century), which was quite an achievement,” he said.

“That means you have longevity and when they judge golfers in the future I hope people who are wise will say that longevity meant an awful lot in selecting the best players that ever lived. It’s like a car, the car that lives the longest, those are the good engines.”

While he insists he “doesn’t know how you choose one above the other” when it comes to ranking his major wins, Player acknowledges he was probably at his peak in 1974, the year that featured his third Open win and a second Masters triumph.

He was 38 at the time, but would remain a formidable force for many years to come, again winning at Augusta in 1978 and also tying for second in the 1984 US PGA Championship shortly before he began a hugely impressive stint on the Champions Tour.

Reflecting on the key factors to his sustained success, Player again returned to the lessons of his childhood and the importance of hard work.

“You’ve got to be happy … and you’ve got to be blessed,” he said.

“You have got to have a faith and you’ve got to have fitness, and you’ve got to be able to sleep and you’ve got to have energy. And you get energy by putting energy in the bank – by exercising.”

Player certainly knows more than most about how rewarding long-lasting commitment can be.

History of The Open

Gary Player
The 97th Open
The 103rd Open
The 88th Open
Royal Lytham and St Annes

The Open Podcasts

Henrik stenson / brilliance at royal troon, phil kenyon / esteemed coach reflects on 'special' open memories, paul stevens / the singing caddie who worked with faldo, oosterhuis and the beatles.

Gary Player speaks on life with longtime caddie Alfred “Rabbit” Dyer

December 27, 2019

BY AAGD STAFF

South African retired professional golfer Gary Player is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers ever. During his career, Player, affectionately known as “The Black Knight” and famously competes while wearing his signature all-black clothing. Player won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour. The late professional caddie Alfred “Rabbit” Dyer, caddied for Player for 17 years and together the two icons shared many glorious experiences.

African American Golfer’s Digest reporter John Perry caught up with Player at the 2019 PNC Father Son Challenge , held December 5-8 at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.

Player took a few minutes to chat about his heartfelt love, and respect for his recently departed looper ‘Rabbit,’ who was a member of the Caddies Hall of Fame .

Dyer was Player’s caddie in 1974 when he won the British Open and he was also the first black caddie to work that particular tournament. Dyer was a caddie in all four major golf tournaments. While Dyer spent most of his career with Player, the list of people he worked with over the years is a long and prestigious one and includes Sam Snead, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, and Chi-Chi Rodriguez to name a few. And that’s just the golfers. Dyer also caddied for presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford. And then there were celebrities like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and stunt man Evel Knievel.

Dyer died on Nov. 11, 2019 at the age of 82.

In this poignant interview, Player shares how saddened he was to learn of his beloved former caddy’s death.

Whether it is on his Twitter page (@garyplayer) or his website, GaryPlayer.com , Gary Player lives and breathes his mantra for golf, “Golf is about connecting with and teaching others. Use your golf game to build relationships and to help others improve.”

During his retirement years, Dyer wrote a regular blog, “ The Looper Line ,” for African Amerian Golfer’s Digest and often called our office to just ‘shoot the breeze.’

Rest in Peace, Alfred.

View all posts

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Gary Player is one of the century’s greatest golfers and one of the original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He is one of only five golfers to ever win the Grand Slam, doing so at the age of 29—and, he is the only golfer to ever win the Grand Slam on both the PGA Tour and the Senior or Champions Tour. He is also the only twentieth century golfer to win the British Open in three different decades. Over the course of his career, Player has won 165 worldwide tournaments, including nine Majors on the Regular PGA Tour and another nine on the Champions Tour. He is a three-time President’s Cup Captain and has been ranked by Golf Digest, Golf and Asian Golf magazines as one of the top five all-time greatest golfers.

An avid physical fitness practitioner, Player embraces a healthy lifestyle and was the first professional golfer to develop a weight and resistance regime to strengthen his game and lessen the possibility of repetitive motion injuries. He is widely recognized as the “father of golf fitness.”

Born in Johannesburg South Africa, Player has circled the globe in pursuit of golfing victories and after journeying over 15 million miles, or 25 million kilometers, he has been dubbed The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™. When not jetting to or from tournaments, Player and his wife Vivienne divide their time between a home on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Florida and his farm in Colesberg, South Africa. They have six children and twenty-one grandchildren. Their eldest son, Marc Player, is CEO of Black Knight International, the parent company for Black Knight Enterprises, Gary Player Design and Player Real Estate. Although acclaimed for his numerous golfing achievements, Gary Player is also a world class golf course designer, astute businessman, humanitarian, thoroughbred horse breeder, and fitness expert.

Player’s golfing career began when he turned professional in 1953 and won his first event in Cairo, Egypt. He joined the PGA Tour in 1957; won his first Major at The British Open in 1959, then in 1961 became the leading money winner on the PGA Tour. During the first three decades he won a total of nine Majors, with three British Open titles, three Masters Tournaments, two PGA Championships and the US Open. In the years between 1986 and 1997, Player continued his winning streak with top honors in nine of the Senior Majors, including three PGA Championships, two US Opens, three British Opens and the Senior Players Championship. Player’s worldwide career earnings exceed fifteen million dollars.

MAJOR TOUR VICTORIES

Player’s career highlights begin with his 1959 British Open win at Muirfield; the first Open Championship to be telecast live. Although battling the typically harsh Scotland weather, he confidentially announced “Today you are going to see a small miracle. I am going to win.” And win he did—to become the youngest Open Championship winner in history, a distinction that would stand for the next twenty years. At the 1961 Masters he went to the final hole one stroke behind Arnold Palmer—both players hit into the greenside bunker; Palmer double-bogied and Player held par for the win. His 1962 PGA Championship was the third leg of the career Grand Slam that he completed in 1965 with a win at the US Open. At that time he was just 29 years old.

In 1968 Player again won the British Open, this time at Carnoustie. Paired with Jack Nicklaus, Player hit a three wood into a stiff wind, flew twin bunkers called the Spectacles and landed his ball nine inches from the hole for an eagle and the tournament win. Four years later at the 1972 PGA Championship, Player found himself in trouble on the 16th hole when he sliced his drive and landed it behind a weeping willow. From where he was, Player had to stand on a spectator’s chair to see the green. Then using a nine iron, he executed what has since been called “one of the most spectacular recovery shots in championship history.” Rounding a crowded stand of trees and clearing the lake in front of the green, he landed his ball four feet from the cup and garnered another tournament win.

Playing what he then called, “the best golf of my life,” Player bypassed powerhouses Palmer and Nicklaus to win the 1974 Masters with a comfortable two stroke lead; then at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, he again took the British Open title.

In the 1978 Masters, Player entered the final round seven strokes behind the leaders—with birdies on seven of the last ten holes he brought in a back nine of 30 for a final round of 64, winning the tournament by a single stroke. One week later he came from seven strokes back to take the Tournament of Champions; then the following week he pulled off a third tour de force to win the Shell Houston Open and become the last player to win three consecutive PGA Tournaments in a row.

CHAMPIONS TOUR VICTORIES

In his 1985 Champions Tour debut Player won the Quadel Senior Classic and for the next four years placed in the Tour’s top ten money winners. During his first seven years on the Champions Tour, Player had one or more victories every year. In 1988 he defeated Bob Charles in a playoff at Medinah, took home the second of two consecutive US Senior Open titles, and finished the year with five wins. But, his biggest paycheck came the following year when he won the Champions Tour RJR Tournament. In 1990 he defeated Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez, and brought in his third Senior PGA Championship with a comfortable two stroke lead. Five years later, Gary Player earned his 18th official Champions Tour victory—it was just weeks before his 60th birthday.

Two years later he again won back-to-back titles at the 1997 Senior British Open and Shell Wentworth Masters. The following year he became the second oldest winner on the Champions Tour—shooting three consecutive rounds of 68 to take the 1998 Northville Long Island Classic. Player then staged the biggest comeback in the history of the Champions Skins Game in January of 2000—making a birdie on the first playoff hole, he won four skins, the match and a $220,000 jackpot. That same year he became the oldest golfer to make The Masters cut and in doing so broke Sam Snead’s 25 year record.

AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS

In addition to his impressive record of tournament wins, Gary Player has received numerous awards in recognition of his sportsmanship and humanitarian deeds. Player’s career accomplishments were recognized by the PGA Tour in 2012 when he became the first international recipient of the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006 he received the PGA Tour Payne Stewart Award for philanthropic endeavors and the exemplary manner in which he conducts himself both on and off the course, and he was also awarded the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. President Mbeki of South Africa presented Player with the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold for exceptional achievement) in December 2003 acknowledging his excellence in golf and contribution to non-racial sport in South Africa.

Currently serving as the Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame, Player is one of only ten golfers to be named Honorary Member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from St. Andrews University along with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Ulster in Ireland and the University of Dundee in Scotland.

In 2009 Player was given the first Asia Pacific Golf Humanitarian Award honoring his decades of service in bringing education to underprivileged children around the globe. Although too numerous to list, Player’s other awards include: The South African Sportsman of the Century Award, The Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, and the inaugural Breeders’ Cup and Racing Excellence Award for service to the thoroughbred race horse industry.

GARY PLAYER STUD

Through a passion for horses that rivals his love for the game of golf, Gary Player has made a clear and definite contribution to the quality of the South African stud book. The Gary Player Stud, located in the Great Karoo of South Africa, is presently home to some of South Africa's finest thoroughbreds and is consistently amongst the leading breeders on the National Breeders List.

The Stud has been the stomping ground of world record equine athletes since 1883. The Ellis family bred numerous champions and stud book dynasties at Rietfontein including Prestisimo, Hey Presto, Magic Charm, Magic Link, Mowgli, Lavonia, Pussmoth, Preston Pam, Pipes of Pam , etc. Player acquired the farm in 1974, and it is his personal involvement with the stud and winning philosophy has set the standard for the team of dedicated professional managers and the stock that they raise.

Gary Player has an unwavering commitment to quality and perfection which has resulted in the production of a very high percentage of stakes winners. The original small band of broodmares produced an average 12% stakes winners per crop including Pinehurst, World Over, Foreign Source, Kadarko, Foolish Pride, My Advantage, Derby Way, Creator, Superwood, Lady Windermere, Supper Club, Sangria Girl, Madrisa, Chave De Oura and others for clients like Nino's Mistral . From only three mares at stud in America, Gary has bred three stakes winners including Gr1 Broadway Flyer and French Gr3 Cachet Noir . Additionally, Player is the first South African breeder ever to produce an international Group 1 winner in the USA out of a South African mare - Serena .

Player and the Gary Player Stud team continue to position themselves atop the ranks, with incredible success at recent sales. Even with his continued success, Player’s long-term commitment still captures excitement as every new stakes winner appears.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

In 2013 Gary Player celebrated his 60th anniversary as a professional golfer—but that’s only part of who he really is. He is a man of principle, integrity, honor and impeccable work ethic. He is first and foremost a father, husband and humanitarian. He is the inspiration behind The Player Foundation, a charitable organization that participates in special events for funding education to underprivileged children. Since its establishment in 1983, the foundation has provided over $50 million dollars to build and operate facilities such as the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a thoroughbred race horse breeder and owner of the stud farm that produced 1994 English Derby winner Broadway Flyer.

Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, is a renaissance man, with varied interests and endless abilities. One of his great loves is the game of golf, which is why he understands the nuances of course design—it’s also why the 325 courses he has engineered are among the most popular in the world. With over fifty years as a professional golfer and forty years in course design, Player now looks to the future with the various entities managed through Black Knight International—The Player Foundation; Gary Player Design and, Player Real Estate…a company with visions of the world’s most perfect golf resort…a luxury resort designed with an eye for perfection… a resort conceived by the perfectionist himself… Gary Player.

For further information on The Player Foundation, Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate or Black Knight International, visit www.garyplayer.com .

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Gary Player - Part 2 (The Open Championships)

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Gary Player, nine-time Major Championship winner on the regular Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame member recounts his love of Australia, several of his Major victories including his three Open Championships, and the racial prejudice he witnessed on the PGA Tour and around the world. As always, this conversation takes many delightful twists and turns and serves to remind us of what a gift Gary Player is to the world of golf as he shares his pearls of wisdom, “FORE the Good of the Game.”

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"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

Thanks so much for listening!

Player, Gary

Professional Golfer and Golf Course Architect

When speaking of Gary Player, it’s common for observers to say something along the lines of: “He’s done more with less than any golfer I’ve ever seen.”

The less is Player’s improbable 5’7″, 160 pounds, his unorthodox method and his hailing from a small country in a remote corner of the world. The more includes nine Major Championships, the modern Grand Slam, over 160 professional victories around the world –including 24 official PGA TOUR victories – and nine Majors on the PGA TOUR Champions. Yet Player, in his forthright way, differs with a reductionist view of his career. “I had a great deal of talent,” he will say, before adding, “but talent alone will only take you so far.”

“The harder you practice, the luckier you get.” No, with Player there has always been a palpable sense of something extra. Perhaps no golfer has ever craved victory so much for such a long time. “What I have learned about myself,” he wrote in his 1991 autobiography, “is that I am an animal when it comes to achievement and wanting success. There is never enough success for me.”

His peers, who included Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in their primes, knew it. “I don’t think Gary was a great driver of the golf ball,” said Nicklaus. “I don’t think he was a great iron player. He was a good putter, not a great putter. But when he really needed to be, he was a great driver, and a great iron player, and he made the putt when he needed to make it. Gary, as much as anyone I ever saw, has that thing inside him that champions have.”

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The Masters 2024: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson call for PGA Tour and LIV Golf unity

13 players from LIV Golf competing at The Masters; Major is first event players from Saudi-backed circuit have competed against PGA Tour stars since The Open; Watch all four rounds live from Augusta National on Sky Sports Golf

By Ali Stafford at Augusta National

Thursday 11 April 2024 17:58, UK

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Golfing greats Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson have all called for unity between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to get the world’s best back playing together frequently in a ‘fractured’ sport.

The all-star trio fulfilled their roles as Honorary Starters at The Masters, following a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay at Augusta National, before discussing the state of the men's game during a lengthy press conference.

The Masters is the first event that PGA Tour and LIV Golf members have competed in the same field since The Open in July, as talks continue to untie the men's game following the Framework Agreement initially announced last summer.

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Watson told reporters about speaking to past winners at Tuesday's Champions Dinner about how great it was to have players from both circuits competing against each other, something he wants to see more frequently in the future.

"We all know golf is fractured with the LIV Tour and the PGA Tour doing the different things they are doing," Watson said in Thursday's press conference. "We all know it's a difficult situation for professional golf right now.

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"The players really kind of have control I think in a sense. What do they want to do? We'll see where it goes. We don't have the information or the answers. I don't think the PGA Tour or the LIV Tour really have an answer right now.

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"I think in this room, I know the three of us want to get together. We want to get together like we were at that Champions Dinner, happy and the best players playing against each other. The bottom line is that's what we want in professional golf, and right now, we don't have it."

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Will players be welcomed back?

Defending champion Jon Rahm is among a 13-strong LIV contingent in the field at Augusta National, five fewer than in 2023, with the lack of world rankings points on offer making it harder for players from the Saudi-backed circuit to earn their spot in the majors.

Rahm said earlier this week about how he still loves the PGA Tour and was open to competing on the circuit again, although Player believes it's going to be challenging to get players back together.

"In any business whatsoever, where there's confrontation, it's unhealthy," Player said. "You've got to get together and come to a solution. The public don't like it and we as professionals don't like it either.

Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII GC attends a press conference during the practice round before the start of the LIV Golf Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Country Club on Tuesday, February 06, 2024 in Las Vegas, United States. (Photo by Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via AP)

"It's a big problem because they paid all these guys to join the LIV tour, fortunes beyond comprehension. I really believe that the players who were loyal should be compensated in some way or another, otherwise there will be dissension."

The PGA Tour player director met with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - who bankroll LIV Golf - last month in the Bahamas as part of the ongoing talks between the organisations, although no timeline has been publicly put in place as to when - or if - the deal will be finalised.

"The best outcome is the best players playing each other against each other all the time," Nicklaus said. "How it's going? I don't know. I don't want to be privy to it.

"I talked to Jay [Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner] not very long ago. I said 'Jay, don't tell me what's going on because I don't want to have to lie to the press when people ask me questions'. I 'said how are you doing' and he said 'we're doing fine'.

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his shot from the 13th fairway during the first round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

"I think if Jay thinks we're doing fine and we're going to get there, then I think we'll get there. I certainly hope that happens the sooner the better."

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World golf hall of fame members join 2023 insperity invitational.

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Annika are coming back to The Woodlands, Texas and they are bringing 12 additional legends of the game with them for the Folds of Honor Greats of Golf on April 29, 2023 – an annual tradition held in conjunction with the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare.

The Folds of Honor Greats of Golf exhibition is a spectator-friendly 9-hole scramble featuring 16 golf legends during the second round of the Insperity Invitational. The distinguished group of golf’s greats will tee it up for the 10th time at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course for the special Saturday competition that will be a feature event in the tournament’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Insperity Invitational Hill behind the 18th Green

“We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to bring the greatest names in the game of golf back to the Houston area thanks to the support of our new partner, Folds of Honor, during this milestone celebration for our tournament. This collection of legends are true ambassadors and role models in our sport,” said Bryan Naugle, Executive Director, Insperity Invitational. “Not only is this a great group of golfers, they are incredible people and special role models for all of us. Reuniting these extraordinary ambassadors of our game has become a staple of tournament week. They provide hours of entertainment and a lifetime of memories for our fans each year.”

The distinguished group includes 13 World Golf Hall of Famers who have combined for 234 PGA TOUR victories, 156 LPGA TOUR victories, 77 major championship titles, and 158 PGA TOUR Champions wins. Six of these players have won six or more major championships: Nicklaus (18); Annika (10); Player (9); Inkster (7); and both Bradley and Trevino (6).

The players will be grouped in foursomes and play a scramble format. Each group will feature one of the greatest women’s golfers ever to play the game.

Annika* Jack Nicklaus* Gary Player* Lee Trevino*

Pat Bradley* David Graham* Tony Jacklin* Tom Kite*

Nancy Lopez* Dave Stockton Larry Nelson* Hale Irwin*

Juli Inkster* Ben Crenshaw* Bill Rogers Fuzzy Zoeller

*Denotes World Golf Hall of Fame Member

The world class gathering of the game’s greatest players will tee off on the 10th hole (approximately 2 p.m.) after the last group in the official PGA TOUR Champions competition makes the turn onto the back nine for a nine-hole scramble exhibition.

The Insperity Invitational offers free grounds only admission tickets courtesy of Insperity, Woodforest National Bank and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. For updated information on all aspects of the Insperity Invitational, fans are encouraged to visit www.insperityinvitational.com .

ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Beginning in 2022, it expanded its mission to include first responders. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded about 44,000 scholarships totaling about $200 million across all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities. With 91 cents of every dollar donated going to scholarships, Folds of Honor is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on GuideStar. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.southtexas.foldsofhonor.org . Connect with Folds of Honor and Folds of Honor South Texas on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

ABOUT INSPERITY

Since 1986, Insperity’s mission has been to help businesses succeed so communities prosper. Offering the most comprehensive suite of scalable HR solutions available in the marketplace, Insperity is defined by an unrivaled breadth and depth of services and level of care. Through an optimal blend of premium HR service and technology, Insperity delivers the administrative relief, reduced liabilities and better benefit solutions that businesses need for sustained growth. With 2022 revenues of $5.9 billion and more than 90 locations throughout the U.S., Insperity is currently making a difference in thousands of businesses and communities nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.insperity.com .

UNITEDHEALTHCARE

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and 7,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

Insperity Invitational

A PGA TOUR Champions event, the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare features the world’s premier golfers age 50 and older. With the support of its Official Sponsors: Woodforest National Bank, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Alfa Romeo, Pepsi, Sports Radio 610, National Car Rental and Folds of Honor, the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare is managed and operated by Pro Links Sports. In 2008, the tournament received the prestigious President’s Award as the Best Event on the PGA TOUR Champions, and in 2011 received the President’s Award for Excellence in Achievement. In 2012 and 2015, the tournament received The Players Award for having the “Best of Everything” for the players, sponsors and spectators. Interfaith of The Woodlands, one of the local charities benefitting from the tournament, was named the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year. Past champions include Larry Nelson, Jay Haas, Mark McNulty, four-time winner Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon, Fred Funk, Esteban Toledo, Ian Woosnam, John Daly, Scott McCarron, Mike Weir and Steven Alker. For more information about the Tradition of Excellence at the Insperity Invitational, visit www.insperityinvitational.com , on Instagram @insperityinvitational, Twitter @InsperityInvtnl, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InsperityInvitational .

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Gary Player Net Worth

What is Gary Player’s net worth?

Net Worth: $250 Million Age: 88 Born: November 1, 1935 Gender: Male Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Country of Origin: South Africa Source of Wealth: Professional Golfer Last Updated: Jun 3, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Gary Player is a South African retired professional golfer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers ever.

Player has won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour.

As of June 2024, Gary Player’s net worth is roughly $250 Million.

Early Life

Gary Player was born on the 1st of November, 1935, in South Africa.

His father worked in gold mines and strived hard to raise his kids in the best possible manner.

He began playing golf at the age of 14 and within three years he became a professional.

Career

Gary Player is one of the most successful professional golfers in history, and he’s tied for fourth place in major championship wins, having won nine.

Alongside Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Player is considered one of the “Big Three” golfers from the 1950s through 1970s.

He began competing on the PGA Tour in 1958 and has since earned several victories as one of the best golfers in the world.

A Golf Legend

Gary Player has won the South African Open 13 times and the Australian Open 7 times, more than any other professional golfer.

He also held the record for the most World Match Play Championship wins with five, until 2004 when Ernie Els surpassed him.

From 1968 to 1981, Player was in the top ten in world golf rankings and was only ranked second in ‘69, ‘70, and ‘72 to Jack Nicklaus.

Player was the only pro golfer to win the British Open in three different decades, with his first win occurring in 1959.

In 1974, he became one of the few golfers to win two major championships during the same season.

He last won the Masters in 1978 and, a week later, took home the victory at the Tournament of Champions.

When he was 48 in 1984, he became the oldest golfer ever to become a major champion after winning the PGA Championship.

After that, in 1998, he became the oldest golfer to play in the Masters, and he credited his diet and practice for allowing him to compete.

Coaching & Player’s Later Wins

As a South African, Gary Player was never eligible to play in the Ryder Cup where American and European golfers face off.

However, when the Presidents Cup was established to give International players a similar chance, Player was no longer eligible.

Instead, he became a non-playing captain for the International Team in 2003 when the event was held on a course he helped design.

Player was appointed captain again in 2005 and 2007, but his team ended up losing to the Americans both times.

While many of his tournament wins trickled off in the late 90s, Gary Player wasn’t entirely done with the sport himself.

In 2000, he took part in the Senior Skins Game, an unofficial event where he took home the win.

He also won the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament in 2009 and 2010 before taking part in the Insperity Invitational from 2012 to 2017.

Thanks to his prolific career, Gary Player became one of the richest golfers in the world with a career spanning over six decades.

Player’s Other Ventures

In 1983, Gary Player created The Player Foundation to bring education, medical care, and athletics to children living on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Since being established, his organization has branched out to help children across the globe and donate over $65 million to children’s charities.

Most recently, he donated $150,000 to Place of Home , an organization that aims to help foster children aging out of the system.

Primarily funded by grants and donations, the foundation also receives money from the four Gary Player Invitational Events that take place annually.

Alongside this, like Pete Dye , Gary Player has helped design numerous golf courses via The Player Design firm.

In total, the firm has completed over 400 courses in 41 different countries, offering three different design brands, including Gary Player Design and Black Knight Design.

When golf became part of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Gary Player Design was one of the finalists selected to design the official course.

As of June 2024, Gary Player’s net worth is $250 Million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Gary Player’s career:

BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year (1965)
Laureus World Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement (2003)

Favorite Quotes from Gary Player

“I am tired of all these golfers who are happy with second place. The only one who will like you if you come in second place is your wife and your dog. And that is only if you have a good wife and a good dog.” – Gary Player

“To succeed in life one must have the determination and must be prepared to suffer during the process. If one isn’t prepared to suffer during adversities, I don’t really see how he can be successful.” – Gary Player

“I got so strong I felt like a giant…..When I stood on the tee with Arnold and Jack, I was tiny compared to them. But I never believed they were bigger than me. So the mind is so fascinating.” – Gary Player

“First, educate yourself about what a vegan diet entails and why it is beneficial to your health. You need to understand and embrace the philosophy or you will not be able to make such a drastic dietary change. Secondly, make the change over time. Don’t try and “go cold turkey”; you will shock your system and you will develop cravings that you may not be able to fight off. If you take your time and let your body adjust you will be eating a completely different diet before you realize it.” – Gary Player

3 Life Lessons from Gary Player About Health

Now that you know all about Gary Player’s net worth, and how he achieved success; let’s take a look at some of the lessons we can learn from him:

1. Buy a Treadmill

All a person’s got to do is invest in buying a treadmill, and putting a treadmill in their bathroom. And every morning before they have their shower just get on that treadmill for a lousy 10 minutes.”

2. Have a Good Diet

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. You don’t put gas in your car when you park it in the garage at night.”

3. Take Care Of Yourself

Look after yourself, man. Your body is a holy temple. The greatest gift you can have is your health

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is gary player worth.

Gary Player’s net worth is estimated to be $250 Million.

How old is Gary Player?

Gary Player was born on November 1, 1935, and is currently 88 years old.

How tall is Gary Player?

Gary Player’s height is 1.68 m, which is equal to 5 ft 6 in.

Gary Player is a South African golfer considered to be one of the greatest players of the game.

He is most famous for becoming the only non-American to win the “Grand Slam of Golf” consisting of the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA championship.

As of June 2024, Gary Player’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $250 Million.

What do you think about Gary Player’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

LaVar Ball Net Worth

Laurene Powell Jobs Net Worth

Emmy Wallin is a writer for Wealthy Gorilla. She is a young Swedish girl from Uppsala, who is currently traveling around the world. Emmy has a big passion for helping others and motivating people. Emmy has been studying celebrities careers, biographies, lifestyles, and net worths for over 3 years. She is the face behind the net worth profiles here on Wealthy Gorilla.

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Rickie Fowler Net Worth

What is Rickie Fowler’s net worth?

Net Worth: $40 Million Age: 35 Born: December 13, 1988 Gender: Male Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Country of Origin: United States of America Source of Wealth: Professional Golfer Last Updated: January 26, 2024

As of June 2024, Rickie Fowler’s net worth is estimated to be $40 Million.

Rickie Fowler is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

He was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008.

Rick Yutaka Fowler was born on the 13th of December, 1988 in Murrieta, California.

Fowler is the son of Rod Fowler, owner of a trucking company, and Lynn Fowler.

He followed his father to be a dirt racer, but following an accident while in high school, he gave up riding and learned golf from his grandfather.

Rickie Fowler started his professional golfing career in 2009 after finishing as the runner-up to Derek Lamely on the Nationwide Tour.

Following that, he played at the Albertsons Boise Open and in September he signed a multi-year equipment deal with Titleist.

Fowler’s first PGA Tour event was the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where he tied for seventh place.

After that, he placed at the Frys.com Open and tied for second after losing to Troy Matteson in a three-way playoff.

In November 2009, he finished two shots behind Mark Brooks in the Pebble Beach Invitational, and in December gained his PGA Tour card for 2010.

Rising Through The Ranks

Rickie Fowler became the runner-up behind Justin Rose at the Memorial Tournament in 2010, and it took him into the top 50 of the World Golf Ranking.

Later that year, he signed a clothing deal with Puma, and he was chosen to play for the U.S. Ryder Cup Team.

At the time, he was the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup team member ever, surpassed only by European Sergio Garcia in 1999.

For her performance in the Ryder Cup, Fowler won the Rookie of the Year award over Rory McIlroy , the projected winner.

In 2011, he earned his first PGA Tour win at the AT&T National, then finished fifth at The Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.

Fowler then tied for second behind Adam Scott at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, bringing him to no. 28 in the world rankings.

Fowler Keeps Competing

After finishing the 2011 season ranked 32nd in the world, he started 2012 by winning the Wells Fargo Championship, defeating Rory McIlroy.

He then took part in The Players Championship and tied for second place, the fifth second-place tie of his career.

In 2013, he was the runner-up at the Australian PGA Championship, coming in four shots behind winner Adam Scott.

The following year, he tied for fifth in the Masters and earned another second-place finish at the Open Championship in England.

At the PGA Championship, Fowler battled with Phil Mickelson , Henrik Stenson , and McIlroy for the title, eventually coming in tied for third.

He became the third player, along with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods , to finish in the top five of all the majors in a single year.

Hitting His Stride

Rickie Fowler earned his first win in three years at The Players Championship in May 2015, beating Kevin Kisner and Sergio Garcia.

In 2016, he claimed his first victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship but lost out at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

However, using Luke Donald’s pitching wedge, he sunk a hole-in-one to win $1 million for the charity Els for Autism.

Fowler won The Honda Cup in 2017, his fourth PGA Tour win, and moved into the top 10 world golf rankings.

At the 2017 U.S. Open, he led one stroke under Paul Casey and earned the lowest first-round score in the history of the competition.

In 2018, he finished one stroke shy of the win but became the 27th golfer in history to win $30 million in total Tour earnings.

After placing second at the Masters Tournament, by September, he’d qualified for the Ryder Cup, though they lost to the European team.

Fowler’s Recent Career

In 2019, Rickie Fowler signed a multi-year deal to use golf balls and gloves from TaylorMade, then won the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Fowler then played for the U.S. team at the Presidents Cup in Australia and helped his team win 16-14.

The following year, Fowler started to struggle, placing 12th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and 15th at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

This trend continued into 2021, and he missed the threshold to qualify for the Players Championship and placed 65th at the Honda Classic.

While he had become one of the richest golfers in the world , it seemed like Fowler’s skills had plateaued, and fans weren’t sure of his future.

He only played in one major, the PGA Championship in 2022, but tied for second behind Keegan Bradley at the Zozo Championship.

In 2023, he made a comeback to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his first PGA Tour Win since 2019.

As of June 2024, Rickie Fowler’s net worth is $40 Million.

Here are some of the best highlights of Rickie Fowler’s career:

Walker Cup: 2007 – 2009 (Won)
Ryder Cup: 2010, 2014, 2016 (Won)

Favorite Quotes From Rickie Fowler

” I don’t just want to be, ‘He dresses cool’ or ‘He dresses crazy.’ You’re going to have lovers and haters. I want my golf game to be the main thing.” – Rickie Fowler

“Obviously, signing on with Puma right when I turned pro, it’s been a great fit for me to show off my colorful lifestyle as far as where I grew up and how I grew up, growing up on a public driving range and growing up around action sports my whole life. Not exactly the normal road that guys take to get to the PGA Tour.” – Rickie Fowler

“I’d love to have a lasting impact as far as growing the game. It would be cool to be remembered as a major champion. I’d like to be remembered as a great golfer but also a great person, as far as growing the game and charity work. The whole well-rounded athlete.” – Rickie Fowler

“When I was a kid, dressing right and looking good was a priority. As I grew up, I just wanted to stay that way, stick out a bit and have my own thing. That’s where white belts and wearing some colors started. So signing with Puma was a great fit for me. I usually travel with nine pairs of golf shoes and 10 belts.” – Rickie Fowler

3 Life Lessons From Rickie Fowler

Now that you know all about Rickie Fowler’s net worth, and how he achieved success; let’s take a look at some of the strongest lessons we can learn from him:

1. Have Fun

Even though you’re growing up, you should never stop having fun.

2. Growing Up

For, after all, you do grow up, you do outgrow your ideals, which turn to dust and ashes, which are shattered into fragments; and if you have no other life, you just have to build one up out of these fragments.

3. Do What’s Right For You

You can’t live your life for other people. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.

How much is Rickie Fowler worth?

Rickie Fowler’s net worth is estimated to be $40 Million.

How old is Rickie Fowler?

Rickie Fowler was born on December 13, 1988, and is currently 35 years old.

How tall is Rickie Fowler?

Rickie Fowler’s height is 1.75 m, which is equal to 5 ft 9 in.

Rickie Fowler is an American professional golfer with four PGA Tour wins and two European Tour wins under his belt.

During his amateur career, he attained the top ranking in the world and retained the spot for 37 weeks straight.

He also won the Western Junior once and the Sunnehanna Amateur twice, and helped the US claim the Walker Cup twice.

What do you think about Rickie Fowler’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

Zach johnson net worth.

Zach Johnson is a professional golfer who earned millions winning major championships and leading the field on the PGA Tour.

What is Zach Johnson’s net worth?

Net Worth: $35 Million Age: 47 Born: February 24, 1976 Gender: Male Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Country of Origin: United States of America Source of Wealth: Professional Golfer Last Updated: September 23, 2023

Zach amassed more than 12 PGA Tour victories over the years and has shown no signs of slowing down.

He won two major championships that secured his reputation as a top-flight golfer – the 2015 Open Championship and the 2007 Masters.

Zach’s journey began at Elmcrest Country Club, where he honed his skills and, after five years on the development circuit, he established himself as one of the most successful professional golfers.

As of June 2024, Zach Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be $35 Million.

Zach Johnson Facts

In 2007, Zach led the group that sang “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” in the 7th stretch during the Cubs game.
He scored a hole-in-one on the 9th hole during the 2014 U.S. Open.
Zach has been a professional golfer ever since 1998.
He is set to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team in an event against Italy in 2023.
Zach won his first-ever PGA Tour event at the Bellsouth Classic in 2004.

Zachary Harris Johnson was born on February 24, 1976 , in Iowa City, Iowa, United States.

Johnson is the oldest of three siblings, with Julie and Dave Johnson being his younger brothers who were raised in Cedar Rapids by his chiropractor father.

From a young age, Zach developed a love for sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and baseball.

However, he eventually found his true passion in golf, which he started playing at the age of 10.

To improve his skills, Zach joined Elmcrest Country Club and became a member of the Regis High School golf team.

In 1992, he led the team to the Iowa 3A state championship and, after graduating, Zach attended Drake University.

There he led the Bulldogs to two Missouri Valley championships and three NCAA regional meets. This qualified him for the NAIA National Tournament in 1975.

Zach turned pro in 1998 and competed on various developmental tours, including the Prairie Golf Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and the NGA Hooters Tour.

In 2001, he won the final three regular-season tournaments on the NGA Hooters Tour, and in 2003, he finished first on the Nationwide Tour.

This earned him an automatic entry to the PGA Tour, which he won on his first outing in 2004 at the BellSouth Classic near Atlanta.

In 2006, Zach qualified for the Ryder Cup team by ranking ninth on the United States points list.

He won his first major title, the Master’s Tournament in 2007, by two strokes, placing him ahead of Tiger Woods , Retief Goosen, and Rory Sabbatini.

By 2009, he had won his fifth PGA Tour victory and successfully defended his title at the Valero Texas Open.

He defeated Tiger Woods again at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in 2013, which helped him move into the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Zach is known as one of the best amongst the elite golfers, such as Greg Norman , Nick Faldo , Jack Nicklaus , and Gary Player , to name a few.

Zach Johnson’s Career Earnings

Zach started off attending Drake University, where he led the Bulldogs to two Missouri Valley championships and three NCAA regional meets.

After turning pro in 1998, Johnson played on various developmental tours, including the Prairie Golf Tour, the Buy.com Tour (now the Nationwide Tour), and the NGA Hooters Tour.

Here’s an estimated overview of Zach Johnson’s annual income:

Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2017 – $2.5 Million
Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2018 – $2 Million
Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2019 – $603,000
Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2020 – $777,000
Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2021 – $1.25 Million
Zach Johnson’s Salary In 2022 – $610,000

In 2003, he finished first on the Nationwide Tour, earning him an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour.

He won his first PGA Tour event at the 2004 BellSouth Classic, with other notable victories including the Sony Open in Hawaii in 2009 and the 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Zach Johnson’s Net Worth Annually

He won the 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the John Deere Classic and has also been a member of the Ryder Cup team twice.

In addition to his many successes on the course, Johnson is known for his positive attitude and leadership skills.

Here’s a breakdown of Yvette Prieto’s annual net worth:

Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2017 – $32 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2018 – $32.8 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2019 – $33.5 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2020 – $34 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2021 – $34.5 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2022 – $35 Million
Zach Johnson’s Net Worth In 2023 – $35 Million

Zach Johnson’s career has been marked by numerous victories and record-breaking performances, making him one of the most successful golfers of his generation.

His consistency has allowed him to beat some of the richest golfers in the world , including Phil Mickelson , Jordan Spieth , Ernie Els , and Vijay Singh amongst others.

Personal Life

Zach met his future wife Kim Barclay in a parking lot in Florida in 2000. The couple decided to get married three years later, in 2003. The couple went on to have two sons and one daughter.

Their sons’ names are Wyatt and Will, and their daughter’s name is Abby Jane. The family lives together in St. Simons, Georgia. Zach is a serious Christian and enjoys expressing his experiences with his religion.

Zach’s online presence includes an official Instagram account and official Twitter account , so be sure to follow for the latest updates or check out his official website for more news.

Awards & Achievements

Zach earned the 11th victory of his career and set a record at the 2014 U.S. Open with a hole-in-one.

He went on to win the 2015 Open Championship but fell out of the top one hundred in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in 2019.

Here are some of the finest moments from Zach Johnson’s career:

He won the Ryder Cup with the U.S. team in 2016.
Zach received the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial for the second time in 2012.
He became the leading money winner at the 2003 Nationwide Tour.
Zach became the Player of the Year at the Nationwide Tour in 2003.
In 2020, Zach was honored with the Payne Stewart Award.

He was unable to participate in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and in 2021, he tested positive for Covid-19 and was unable to play in the Open Championship.

Recently, it was announced that Zach would be the captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team against Italy in 2023.

How Does Zach Johnson Spend His Money?

Zach and his wife are the founders of the Zach Johnson Foundation, a charity focusing on helping improve the education and lives of families in need in Iowa.

Zach and his family are not big spenders and live a comfortable life while still giving back to their community.

While Zach could certainly afford one of the most expensive cars in the world , he can be seen driving his pimped-out crossover BMW.

In preparation for tournaments, Johnson typically spends a lot of time practicing and fine-tuning his skills on the course.

He also focuses on maintaining a positive attitude and staying mentally sharp, which are crucial for performing at his best under pressure.

Here are some of the best highlights of Zach Johnson’s career:

Zach became victorious after winning the 2007 Masters.
He won the 2015 Open Championship and claimed his second major championship title.
Zach appeared in the Ryder Cup in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
One of Zach’s best seasons was in 2015, when he won $4.8 million.
The most wins in a season for Zach were during the 2007, 2009, and 2012 seasons.

Overall, Johnson’s career has been marked by many victories and record-breaking performances, making him one of the most successful golfers of his generation.

Johnson has always maintained a positive outlook, even in difficult situations, which has helped him maintain his mental strength and resilience, which are crucial for success in golf.

Favorite Zach Johnson Quotes

Zach is quite outspoken and it is no surprise that he has some interesting things to say about the PGA Tour and golf in general.

Here are our favorite quotes from Zach Johnson:

“I don’t hit it as far as a lot of guys do, so I have to be in the right spot in the fairway to score, and that means driving it well.” – Zach Johnson
“I feel like God gave me the ability to play a game. I try to take it very seriously. I realize it’s just a game.” – Zach Johnson
“I guess I’m kind of the feel-good story who’s seen every level of professional golf.” – Zach Johnson
“Golf is not my priority.” – Zach Johnson
“It’s a great platform for us to give back to the community that started me in the game and other communities.” – Zach Johnson

3 Amazing Lessons From Zach Johnson

Zach has always maintained a professional and dedicated approach to golf, which paid off by him becoming one of the best players on the tour.

Now that you know all about Zach Johnson’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Zach Johnson:

1. Self-Belief Is The Key To Success

Zach has always trusted in his swing and his shot-making abilities, even under pressure situations.

This self-belief has been a key factor in his success and has allowed him to perform at his best when it mattered most.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Johnson is known for his dedication to practice and continuous improvement and he has always put in hard work and effort to hone his skills, both on and off the course.

This dedication to practice has been a major factor in his success and has helped him consistently perform at a high level.

3. Maintain A Positive Attitude

In addition to his hard work and dedication, Zach Johnson is known for his positive attitude and approach to golf.

He has always maintained a positive outlook, even in difficult situations, and has remained focused on the things he can control.

Summary

Zach Johnson has built an impressive career in professional golf through his determination, hard work, and dedication to the sport.

He is widely respected among other elite golfers and has demonstrated his skills by defeating notable players such as Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.

In addition to his many victories and record-breaking performances, Zach has also been selected as the captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team for 2023.

As of June 2024, Zach Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be $35 Million.

What do you think about Zach Johnson’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

Tom watson net worth.

Tom Watson built his fortune on the golf course by being one of the best professional golfers of his time.

What is Tom Watson’s net worth?

Net Worth: $25 Million Age: 74 Born: September 4, 1949 Gender: Male Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Country of Origin: United States of America Source of Wealth: Professional Golfer Last Updated: September 23, 2023

Tom Watson is a renowned professional golfer who has been consistently successful throughout his career and is regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

He has won a total of 39 times on the PGA Tour and has received the PGA Player of the Year award six times.

Apart from his success on the PGA Tour, Watson has also had success on the over-50 Champions Tour, where he has won 14 times and six major championships.

As of June 2024, Tom Watson’s net worth is estimated to be $25 Million.

Tom Watson Facts

Tom Watson was the first golfer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1977 after winning the Masters Tournament.
Watson is successful as a golf course designer, having created The Bull at Pinehurst Farms in Wisconsin and The Ranch Course at Cordillera in Colorado.
He has a passion for history and has written a book about the history of golf called “The Soul of the Game: Golf’s Greatest Players and Moments.”
In 2010, Watson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a member of the PGA Tour category.
Watson led the American Ryder Cup team in Scotland in 2014.

Thomas Sturges Warson was born September 4, 1949 , in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

When Tom was just four years old, he played golf with his father and developed a passion for the game.

At the Kansas City Country Club, he was introduced to coach Stan Thirsk and started honing his skills.

Tom went to Pembroke Country-Day School, where he played on his high school team and achieved exceptional performances that earned him acclaim in the community.

He next enrolled at Stanford University, where Watson eventually earned a psychology degree in 1971.

Tom won the Missouri State Amateur titles four times, in 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971, before beginning his professional career.

Watson’s professional career began in 1974, but at first, he battled greatly to produce outcomes similar to those of his amateur years.

But in 1974, he became friends with Byron Nelson, who later served as his coach, and with his help, Tom was able to win his first championship at the Western Open.

Once he had his first victory under his belt, Watson continued to have success, and in 1975, he won the Open Championship.

He is one of only four players since the Second World War to do so – the others are Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964), and Ben Curtis (2003).

Tom’s first Masters Championship victory in 1977 significantly enhanced his net worth and earned him the Vardon Trophy, as well as the title of PGA Player of the Year.

In 1978 and 1979, he won the Vardon Trophy again, getting close to the richest golfers in the world and having the highest scoring average for a PGA year.

In 1980, he won his third Open Championship and was voted PGA Player of the Year for the fourth time, increasing his marketability.

His US Open victory in 1982 and his second Open Championship win the following year further boosted his earnings and solidified his reputation as an exceptional golfer.

However, his performance began to decline in the late 1980s, and, despite using some of the most expensive golf clubs in the world , he only won a few smaller tournaments.

Despite this, Tom’s overall victories still place him among the top golfers in history, with only Tiger Woods , Ben Hogan, Walter Hagen, Gary Player , and Jack Nicklaus having more victories.

Since joining the Champions Tour in 1999, Tom has competed in a limited number of tournaments and has achieved 14 victories, including six senior majors.

Tom Watson’s Career Earnings

Tom has a competitive, quick-moving game, having won 39 times on the PGA Tour and now mostly competes on the over-50 Champions Tour.

He has won 14 additional times, including six PGA TOUR Champions major championships.

Now that Tom Watson is retired, there are no official records of how much he earns annually, so it is not possible to confirm his annual income.

Watson was one of the best golfers in the world during the 1970s and 1980s, winning eight major championships and five times topping the PGA Tour money list.

From 1978 to 1982, he held the top spot in McCormack’s World Golf Rankings; in both 1983 and 1984, he was rated second only to Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish champion.

He is one of only a handful of players including, Dustin Johnson and Vijay Singh whom the PGA Tour have given a lifetime membership.

Tom Watson’s Net Worth Annually

When the successor Sony Rankings made their debut in 1986, he lasted 32 weeks among the top 10 players in the world.

Watson participated in four Ryder Cup competitions and led the American team to win at The Belfry in England in 1993.

Here’s a breakdown of Tom Watson’s annual net worth:

Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2017 – $23.2 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2018 – $23.5 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2019 – $23.8 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2020 – $24 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2021 – $24.5 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2022 – $25 Million
Tom Watson’s Net Worth In 2023 – $25 Million

Watson has also competed in four Ryder Cup competitions, and in 1993, his team performed well, winning the competition.

20 years later, Tom led the Americans in the 2014 Ryder Cup, which was played in Scotland, but failed to win the competition.

Tom is also one of the founders of the Tom Watson Design Company, which has created several golf courses, including the Independence Course at the Reunion Resort & Club in Orlando, Florida, and the Phoenix Resort in Miyazaki, Japan.

In terms of his personal life, Tom is now single and focused on his profession and was previously wed to Hilary Watson.

They married in 1999 and have two children, Michael Watson and Meg Watson, but sadly, Hilary passed away in 2019.

According to certain internet sources, he was also married to Linda Rubin in 1972, and the two parted ways after five years of marriage.

Tom was married for the third time to Leslie Anne Wade, but the marriage didn’t last and the couple separated in 2022 after just 3 months.

You can follow Tom on his official Instagram account or official Twitter account to see what he’s getting up to next.

He was the first golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the PGA Tour category who had not won a PGA Tour event after turning 50.

At sixty years old and after 26 years of professional golf, he led for a good portion of the 2009 Open Championship despite ultimately losing.

Here are some highlights from Tom Watson’s career:

He was awarded the Vardon Trophy five times in his career; in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.
Tom received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 1992.
He also received the Bob Jones Award from the USGA in 1987.
Watson received the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award in 2003 and the Charles Schwab Cup in 2005, respectively.
Tom Watson won the PGA Player of the Year award five times in his career; in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.

The last of his four victories in Japan came at the prestigious Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Japan Golf Tour.

How Does Tom Watson Spend His Money?

Tom Watson retired to a huge mansion in one of his favorite spots in the world, Kansas City, Missouri.

He is an avid fly fisherman and has even had some of his fishing trips featured in outdoor magazines.

Watson enjoys the all-season climate and congenial atmosphere of the Midwest and has a special connection to the many fine golf courses in the area, including Blue Hills Country Club.

Watson recommends The Raphael and the Westin Crown Center for accommodation and suggests dining at Stroud’s for fried chicken and Arthur Bryant’s or Jess & Jim’s for barbecue and steaks.

Tom enjoys showing visitors the many attractions of Kansas City and sharing his love for his hometown.

He has never owned the most expensive cars in the world as he is an austere and careful individual both on the course and off.

Watson is a cigar aficionado and enjoys smoking some of the most expensive cigars in the world , especially now that he is retired.

Waston, who competed in the Open Championship against Jack Nicklaus in 2005 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, recorded a 5-under-par 65 in the opening round of the 2009 Open Championship.

Watson recorded an ace on the sixth hole in the second match of the 2011 Open Championship.

Here are some of the best highlights of Tom Watson’s career:

Watson won eight major championships throughout his career, including five British Open titles, two Masters Tournament titles, and one U.S. Open title.
Watson has won 39 times on the PGA Tour and received the PGA Player of the Year award six times.
Watson was ranked number one in McCormack’s World Golf Rankings from 1978 to 1982 and was rated second to Seve Ballesteros in 1983 and 1984.
Watson participated in four Ryder Cup competitions and led the American team to victory at The Belfry in England in 1993. He also led the American team in Scotland in 2014, more than 20 years later.
Watson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the PGA Tour category.

Watson was the first golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the PGA Tour category who had not won a PGA Tour event after turning 50.

He participated in his final competitive event, the senior British Open, in July 2019 to much applause, having joined Phil Mickelson , Nick Faldo , and Greg Norman as one of the greats.

Favorite Tom Watson Quotes

Tom Watson is a highly accomplished and respected professional golfer who has shared his thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics throughout his career.

Here are our favorite quotes from Tom Watson:

“From the time I won the Kansas City Match Play championship at age 14, I never wanted to be anything but a golfer.” – Tom Watson
“No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.” – Tom Watson
“Confidence in golf means being able to concentrate on the problem at hand with no outside interference.” – Tom Watson
“I’m very happy with my life. I am what I am. I don’t worry about anything that I can’t control. That’s a really good lesson in life.” – Tom Watson
“Sometimes thinking too much can destroy your momentum.” – Tom Watson

3 Amazing Lessons From Tom Watson

Tom Watson grew up in an era of harsh realities and his austere approach to golf did not always win him amongst his peers.

Now that you know all about Tom Watson’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Tom Watson:

1. Hard Work And Discipline Are Vital

Watson is known for his dedication to practicing and improving his game and has said that hard work and discipline are key to achieving success in golf and in life.

2. Maintaining A Positive Attitude

Watson has emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, even in difficult situations, and feels it can be a powerful tool for overcoming challenges.

3. Strive To Be Mentally Tough

Tom has spoken about the importance of mental toughness in golf and has said that being able to stay focused and maintain a clear mind under pressure is the key to success on the course.

While mental toughness may not be your natural state, it is something that you can improve the more you train your mind for it.

According to Tom Watson, true greatness is characterized by immeasurable intangibles, and can only be fully appreciated through firsthand experience.

His chip-in at Pebble Beach in 1982, which many consider to be the greatest shot in golf history, is one example of his ability to pull off the seemingly impossible.

Becoming truly great requires more than just success, it is determined by how one reacts in defeat and Tom Watson has built his fortune by being indomitable under pressure.

What do you think about Tom Watson’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

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Gary Player drops ignorant bomb on TV amid Augusta National admittance of Annika Sorenstam

Player didn’t hold back his feelings on women playing at Augusta National despite congratulating Sorenstam for becoming a member.

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Gary Player Invitational, Annika Sorenstam

This week, the DP World Tour is at Gary Player Country Club for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

One of the greatest PGA Tour golfers of all time and South African staple, Gary Player, was there for the first round and joined the television broadcast for a while.

He loved that Augusta National finally extended membership to one of the greatest LPGA players ever.

“To see Annika Sorenstam made a member of Augusta, they never allowed women, and now to see a woman be a member, I think it’s fantastic,” Player said. “She’s the best lady golfer in the world, or was — wonderful to see, isn’t it?”

Augusta National has tried to grow its women’s game in recent years. The club started the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019.

His reaction then prompted one of the broadcasters to mention how that event and how equally great that is. That’s when the 88-year-old Player put his foot in his mouth.

“I don’t agree with you on that,” Player said, leaving an eery awkward silence in the booth and on live television.

Come on Gary ‍♂️ ‍♂️ @NoLayingUp #NGC2023 pic.twitter.com/x5BAbbV9kY — Matt Hillier (@wingazz) November 9, 2023

Maybe Player doesn’t realize, but Sorenstam is not the first woman allowed down Magnolia Lane as a member. She is the seventh confirmed lady, joining the likes of Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore and others to have their own green jackets.

However, the 72-time LPGA winner is the first professional women’s golfer allowed into the boy’s club and could really ruffle some traditional feathers.

Player didn’t particularly show excitement that Sorenstam is a member, but his tone changed drastically regarding the amateur event.

The 9-time major champion has openly said he is “not particularly crazy” about mixed events between men and women.

One must wonder, was this just an accidental slip from an old man, or was Player trying to say women don’t belong on this same prestigious course as men?

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.

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'Ain't it good to be together again?': Why the 'room grew quiet' during Masters dinner

Tom Watson only saw unity, conversation and easy laughter among 33 champions at the Masters Club dinner, seven of them now with Saudi-funded LIV Golf . Watson longs for the day golf can feel that way all year long.

Unity is a popular topic at the first major of the year because the PGA Tour has suspended LIV players for defecting to the rival circuit. The only time all the world's best get together are at the majors, and the Masters is the first chance for that since July.

Watson said he asked Masters chairman Fred Ridley if he could speak toward the end of the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night (US time).

Watch the 2024 US Masters golf live and free on Nine and 9Now from April 12-15 .

“I'm looking around the room and I'm seeing just a wonderful experience everybody is having,” Watson, a two-time Masters champion, said from Augusta National, where the 2024 Masters began on Thursday night.

“They are jovial. They are having a great time. They are laughing. And I said, ‘Ain’t it good to be together again?'”

Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player of pose with Masters chairman Fred Ridley. Getty

Watson said the room grew quiet and then it was time to leave.

“And in a sense, I hope that the players themselves took that to say, ‘You know, we have to do something',” Watson said. He paused before repeating, "We have to do something.”

Watson, three-time champion Gary Player and six-time champion Jack Nicklaus were together again on the first tee Thursday night to hit the honourary tee shot, which was delayed by overnight rain.

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They have combined to win 35 majors — Nicklaus and Player own the career grand slam — and are major figures in golf who are among those saddened by the split in in the game as a result of the arrival of LIV Golf. The circuit lured away major champions with guaranteed Saudi riches.

But the Masters Club is a time for celebration. It was said to be like that a year ago with no difference this time around. Most of stories were about Seve Ballesteros because the defending Masters champion is also a Spaniard, Jon Rahm.

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Lucas Herbert of Australia plays his second shot on the 10th hole during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 10, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Leaked photo confirms Aussie's LIV backflip

There is no indication the two tours are about to come together, even as the PGA Tour negotiates with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia — the money behind LIV — as a minority investor in the new commercial enterprise.

Among the obstacles for unification is a path back to the PGA Tour for LIV players, assuming they all want to return.

“The best outcome is the best players play against each other all the time,” said Nicklaus, who has a stake in golf with his Memorial Tournament.

He said he has spoken with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and was told the tour was doing fine.

“If Jay thinks we’re doing fine, we’ll get there. I think we’ll get there,” Nicklaus said. “And I certainly hope that happens, the sooner the better.”

Player believes any solution has to include paying players who stayed loyal to the tour.

“You've got to get together and come to a solution. If you cannot — it's not good,” he said. “The public don't like it, and we as professionals don't like it, either.”

Listening to the news conference from the front row was former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, now an Augusta National member. He retired before the Saudis got involved in golf and has stayed relatively quiet, not willing to offer an opinion.

Finchem was in his first year as commissioner in 1994 when he quickly shot down Greg Norman's effort to start a world tour. He said in 2010 he could foresee a world tour in the future without knowing what shape it could take.

Rory McIlroy has been among those suggesting a series of tournaments around the world for the top players, and that perhaps any solution with LIV could include that.

Finchem isn't so sure the fractured landscape will yield any form of a world tour.

“Golf is not much different than it was 10 years ago and it won't be much different 10 years from now,” Finchem said. “They shouldn't muck around with it.”

About the only thing everyone can agree on is that having players scattered among different tours and only competing against other four times a year isn't helping the sport.

“We all know it’s a difficult situation for professional golf right now,” Watson said. "The players really kind of have control, I think, in a sense. What do they want to do? We’ll see where it goes. We don’t have the information or the answers. I don’t think the PGA Tour or the LIV tour really have an answer right now.

“But I think in this room, I know the three of us want to get together,” he said. “We want to get together like we were at that (Masters) Champions Dinner — happy, the best players playing against each other. That’s what we want in professional golf. And right now, we don’t have it.”

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2024 Charles Schwab Challenge money: Here's how much every player made

D avis Riley, sleeping on a 54-hole lead for just the second time in his PGA Tour career captured the situation he was in perfectly Saturday night.

“When you got Scottie [Scheffler] breathing down your neck, you can’t really let up any, so I know it’s going to be tough and it’s going to be a fun day,” Riley said after shooting a third-round 66 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Scheffler posted a 63, the best round of the day by three, to vault up the leaderboard in second place at Colonial.

Riley has one prior PGA Tour win, but it was when he teamed with Nick Hardy to win the Zurich Classic team event. This time he’s on his own and his closest chaser has done this a time, or two, or 10.

After a chaos-filled and disappointing PGA Championship for Scheffler , he opened with one of his worst rounds of the season at Colonial, in Fort Worth, not far from his home in Dallas. But as the recently renovated Colonial bit back, Scheffler sprung back into contention with a 66-63 run on Friday and Saturday to earn the final-round pairing with Riley.

However, playing with the best player on the planet isn’t one unfamiliar to the 27-year-old Riley. Scheffler beat Riley in the finals of the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur.

“I’ve known Scottie for a long time and played a lot of junior golf with him, college golf, and he obviously is playing some really good golf right now,” Riley said. “So he’s going to come out swinging, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and it will be a fun day competing out there.”

With that, below you can check out the complete payout breakdown for this week's Charles Schwab Challenge, played at Colonial Country Club . The total purse is $9.1 million.

How much every player made at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge

(Final payouts will be updated upon conclusion of the final round)

1. $1,638,000

2. $991,900

3. $627,900

4. $445,900

5. $373,100

6. $329,875

7. $307,125

8. $284,375

9. $266,175

10. $247,975

11. $229,775

12. $211,575

13. $193,375

14. $175,175

15. $166,075

16. $156,975

17. $147,875

18. $138,775

19. $129,675

20. $120,575

21. $111,475

22. $102,375

23. $95,095

24. $87,815

25. $80,535

26. $73,255

27. $70,525

28. $67,795

29. $65,065

30. $62,335

31. $59,605

T32. K.H. Lee, $51,961

Ben Silverman

Justin Rose

T37. Peter Malnati, $38,675

Joseph Bramlett

Jordan Spieth

Martin Laird

Rickie Fowler

Keith Mitchell

T45. Troy Merritt, $27,099.80

Daniel Berger

Zach Johnson

Patrick Rodgers

Gary Woodland

T50. Kevin Streelman, $22,234.33

Charley Hoffman

Victor Perez

Webb Simpson

Brendon Todd

T56. Tyler Duncan, $20,839

Thomas Detry

Joel Dahmen

T61. Parker Coody, $20,111

64. Emiliano Grillo, $19,747

T65. Austin Smotherman, $19,292

Mark Hubbard

Kevin Kisner

69. Ryan Moore, $18,837

T70. Vincent Norrman, $18,564

Callum Tarren

The post 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge money: Here's how much every player made appeared first on Golf .

Gary Woodland puts pieces together in Friday 64 at Charles Schwab Challenge

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FORT WORTH, Texas — For the first time in a long time, everything felt right for Gary Woodland.

He started the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge with three birdies in a row. He eagled his 10th hole, the par-5 first at Colonial Country Club, after a soaring 347-yard drive that reminded everyone on hand Friday morning of the Gary Woodland before he began to feel unwell. He made seven birdies in all in his round of 6-under 64 — a score he hadn’t shot since the Genesis Scottish Open in 2022.

Woodland wasn’t perfect. He made three bogeys. He wanted some shots back. He wasn’t even in the lead when he finished at 4-under par.

But he was, in some important respects, his old self. He drove it boldly, hit iron shots on his lines, scrambled tidily and putted only 23 times, spanning 96 feet.

“I just put everything together,” the four-time TOUR winner said. “It’s been a while.”

Gary Woodland's near ace leads to birdie at Charles Schwab

He returned to competition in January at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He spoke honestly and candidly that week about his situation. He expressed a lot of gratitude.

Woodland missed the cut in Hawaii and the next two. He wasn’t back to full strength. He’s still not. But he’s closer.

He said he probably came back to tournament golf too early. The Charles Schwab Challenge is his 14th start and will represent his seventh made cut. His best finish is a tie for 21 st at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March. This could be the week that shows everyone, most importantly himself, that he can again contend.

“It was nice to have all aspects,” Woodland said. “I drove it well, iron play, controlled the ball really well, and short game was nice and made some putts. It's been a long time since I put it all together. I've had some rounds this year where I putted it well or drove it well, but not together. That was a big change for me.”

He said he’s feeling better. Not his best, but good enough for hope. The thing that is in good shape is his attitude. He remains thankful for every opportunity to hit a golf shot.

“Negative energy's contagious,” Woodland said.

Saturday is another day. He’ll play late for the first time since the symptoms started appearing. He likes Colonial. He’s played Charles Schwab four previous times, with a ninth-place finish in 2020. Back in Kansas, Woodland grew up playing a Perry Maxwell design like Colonial. The place feels familiar.

It’s a time, he said, for good vibes all around.

“I've been thankful, but it's been hard on myself just when you wake up and you don't feel great, and that's not a good attitude and energy to have,” he said. “It took me to going back to a place where I remembered how bad it was a year ago and I'm like, ‘Oh, wow, I'm getting better.’ I think the energy's changed for me the last three weeks and something I'll continue to build on.”

2024 charles schwab challenge prize money payouts for each pga tour player, share this article.

It pays to play well on the PGA Tour. Just ask this week’s winner, Davis Riley .

The 27-year-old won the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas , on Sunday at 14 under by five shots to secure his second win on the PGA Tour. It’s his first win as an individual, taking the Zurich Classic of New Orleans title last year.

For his efforts, Riley will take home the top prize of $1.638 million. Scottie Scheffler and Keegan Bradley tied for second and will each take home $809,900.

With $9.1 million up for grabs, check out how much money each PGA Tour player earned this week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge

Prize money payouts

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Official home: PGA TOUR Champions, live scoring, news, stats, video, player profiles and tournament information. The best PGA TOUR golfers age 50 and above.
Gary Player speaks on life with longtime caddie Alfred "Rabbit" Dyer
Player won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour. The late professional caddie Alfred "Rabbit" Dyer, caddied for Player for 17 years and together the two icons shared many glorious experiences. ... GaryPlayer.com, Gary Player lives and breathes his mantra for golf, "Golf is about ...
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus ( / ˈnɪkləsˌ ˈnɪkəl -/; born January 21, 1940), nicknamed " the Golden Bear ", is a retired American professional golfer and golf course designer. [2] He is widely considered to be either the greatest or one of the greatest golfers of all time. [3] [4] [5] He won 117 professional tournaments in his career.
Comedy hour on the tee box with Lee Trevino and Gary Player
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Gary Player
THE GOLFER. Gary Player is one of the century's greatest golfers and one of the original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He is one of only five golfers to ever win the Grand Slam, doing so at the age of 29—and, he is the only golfer to ever win the Grand Slam on both the PGA Tour and the Senior or Champions Tour.
Gary Player
Gary Player, nine-time Major Championship winner on the regular Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame member recounts his love of Australia, several of his Major victories including his three Open Championships, and the racial prejudice he witnessed on the PGA Tour and around the world. As always, this conversation takes many delightful twists and ...
The Masters 2024: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson call for PGA
Golfing greats Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson have all called for unity between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to get the world's best back playing together frequently in a 'fractured ...
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson on the PGA Tour-LIV dispute
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson want to see the PGA Tour-LIV Golf dispute get settled. Speaking during a joint press conference after the three legends hit the ceremonial tee shots to the 88 th edition of the Masters, Watson shared a special moment during the Champions Dinner, which brought together 33 of the past winners - seven of them members of LIV - in their ...
Athletes from World Golf Hall of Fame to Compete at 2023 Insperity
World Golf Hall of Fame Members Join 2023 Insperity Invitational. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Annika are coming back to The Woodlands, Texas and they are bringing 12 additional legends of the game with them for the Folds of Honor Greats of Golf on April 29, 2023 - an annual tradition held in conjunction with the Insperity ...
2024 Masters: Gary Player opens up about Augusta National
Gary Player walks up a fairway alongside his caddie during a practice round ahead of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images) GP: That was Nipper in 1961 when I beat Palmer to win my first green jacket. On the fourth hole, I had a six-footer for par.
Gary Player Net Worth
Introduction. Gary Player is a South African retired professional golfer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers ever. Player has won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour. As of May 2024, Gary Player's net worth is roughly $250 Million.
Major champion Gary Player hits a stunning shot while playing ...
Gary Player is a legend of the game and has clinched nine major championships on the regular tour and another nine major championships on the Champions Tour. The South African golfer is the lone ...
Masters gets underway with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson
Honorary Starters Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player pose with Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley during the opening ceremony of the 88th Masters. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR) A
Gary Player's ignorance shows amid Annika's Augusta National admittance
This week, the DP World Tour is at Gary Player Country Club for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.. One of the greatest PGA Tour golfers of all time and South African staple ...
US Masters 2024 golf news, Tom Watson on LIV and PGA Tour split at
AP. April 12, 2024 - 2.09am. Tom Watson only saw unity, conversation and easy laughter among 33 champions at the Masters Club dinner, seven of them now with Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Watson longs for the day golf can feel that way all year long. Unity is a popular topic at the first major of the year because the PGA Tour has suspended LIV players ...
Grayson Murray's parents confirm the golfer died by suicide
Murray's death was announced by the PGA Tour on Saturday, a day after the 30-year-old withdrew from competition, citing illness, at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
2024 Charles Schwab Challenge money: Here's how much every player ...
How much every player made at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. (Final payouts will be updated upon conclusion of the final round) 1. $1,638,000. 2. $991,900. 3. $627,900.
Gary Woodland puts pieces together in Friday 64 at Charles Schwab
He eagled his 10th hole, the par-5 first at Colonial Country Club, after a soaring 347-yard drive that reminded everyone on hand Friday morning of the Gary Woodland before he began to feel unwell ...
2024 Charles Schwab Challenge prize money payouts for each PGA Tour player
The 27-year-old won the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday at 14 under by five shots to secure his second win on the PGA Tour. It's his first win as an individual, taking the Zurich Classic of New Orleans title last year. For his efforts, Riley will take home the top prize of $1.638 million.