Gary Jim Player Edit Profile

Businessman designer professional golfer

Background

PLAYER, Gary Jim was born on November 1, 1935 in Johannesburg. Son of Francis Harry Audley Player and late Muriel Marie Ferguson.

Education

Student, King Edward School, Johannesburg. Doctor of Laws (honorary), St. Andrews University, Scotland, 1995.

Career

Professional golfer, since 1953; joined, Professional Golf Association, since 1957; winner, East Rand Open, Republic of South Africa, 1955-1956; winner, Egyptian Matchplay, 1955; winner, South African Open, 1956, 60, 65-69, 72, 75-77, 79, 81; winner, Dunlop Tournament, England, 1956; winner, Ampol Tournament, Australia, 1956, 58, 61; winner, Australian Professional Golf Association, 1957; winner, Coughs Harbour Tournament, Australia, 1957-1958; winner, Natal Open, South Africa, 1958-1960, 62, 66, 68; winner, Kentucky Derby Open, 1958; winner, Australian Open, 1958, 62-63, 65, 69-70, 74; winner, Transvaal Open, South Africa, 1959, 60, 62, 63, 66; winner, South African Professional Golf Association, 1959-1960, 69, 79, 82; winner, Western Province Open, South Africa, 1959-1960, 68, 71-72; winner, Dunlop Masters, South Africa, 1959-1960, 63-64, 67, 71-74, 76-77; winner, British Open, 1959, 68, 74; winner, Victoria Open, Australia, 1959; winner, Masters Tournament, United States, 1961, 74, 78; winner, Lucky International Open, United States, 1961; winner, Sunshine Open, United States, 1961; winner, Yomiuri Open, Japan, 1961; winner, Professional Golf Association Championship, United States, 1962, 72; winner, Sponsored 5000, South Africa, 1963; winner, Liquid Air Tournament, South Africa, 1963; winner, Richelieu Grand Prix, Capetown, 1963; winner, Richelieu Grand Prix, Johannesburg, 1963; winner, San Diego Open, 1963; winner, Pensacola Open, 1964; winner, 500 Festival Open, United States, 1964. Chair Gary Player Group.

Achievements

Gary Jim Player has been listed as a notable professional golfer, businessman, designer by Marquis Who's Who.

Interests

Avocations: thoroughbred horse breeding, farming, fitness, health, diet.

Connections

Son of Francis Harry Audley and Muriel (Ferguson) P. Married Vivienne Verwey, January 19, 1957. Children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, Amanda.

Father:: Francis Harry Audley Player
Mother:: Muriel (Ferguson) Player
Spouse:: Vivienne Verwey
child:: Theresa Player
child:: Wayne Player
child:: Marc Player
child:: Amanda Player
child:: Michele Player
child:: Jennifer Player

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Born

November 1, 1935

Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality
South African

Awards

3rd man in history to win Grand Slam of Golf. Winner over 150 international golf tournaments, 22 Senior Tour tournaments. Named Christian Athlete of Year Southern Baptist Convention, 1967, Sportsman of the Year in South Africa, 1955, 56, 59, 61, 63, 65, 72, 74, 78, South African Sportsman of the Century, 1990. Richardson award Golf Writers Association American, 1975. Named to World Golf Hall of Fame, 1974. Honorary member R&A, 1994, Skills Challenge, 1994. Won East Rand Open, South Africa, 1955-1956, Egyptian Mathchplay, 1955, South African Open, 1956, 60, 65-69, 72, 75-77, 79, 81, Dunlop Tournament, England, 1956, Ampol Tournament, Australia, 1956, 58, 61, Australian Professional Golf Association, 1957, Coughs Harbour Tournament, Australia, 1957-1958, Natal Open, South Africa, 1958-1960, 62, 66, 68, Australian Open, 1958, 62-63, 65, 69-70, 74, Transvaal Open, South Africa, 1959, 60, 62, 63, 66, South African Professional Golf Association, 1959-1960, 69, 79, 82, Western Province Open, South Africa, 1959-1960, 68, 71-72, Dunlop Masters, South Africa, 1959-1960, 63-64, 67, 71-74, 76-77, British Open, 1959, 68, 74, Victoria Open, 1959, Yomiuri Open, Japan, 1961, Masters Tournament, 1961, 74, 78, Sponsored 5000, South Africa, 1963, Liquid Air Tournament, South Africa, 1963, Richelieu Grand Prix, Capetown, 1963, Johannesburg, 1963, NTL Challenge Cup, 1965, World Cup International, 1965, World Series of Golf, 1965, 68, 72, Picadilly World Match Play, England, 1965, 66, 68, 71, 73, Australian Wills Masters, 1968, 69, Dunlop International, Australia, 1970, General Motors Open, South Africa, 1971, 73, 74, 75, 76, Japan Airlines Open, 1972, Brazilian Open, 1972, 74, Rand International Open, South Africa, 1974, General Motors International Classic, South Africa, 1974, Ibergolf Tournament, Spain, 1974, La Manga Tournament, Spain, 1974, General Motors Classic, 1975, International Computers Limited Transvaal, South Africa, 1977, World Cup Individual, The Philippines, 1977, Knonenbrau Masters, South Africa, 1979, Sun City, South American, 1979, Chilean Open, 1980, Trophee Boigny, Ivory Coast, 1980, Australian Tooth Gold Coast Classic, 1981, Johnnie Walker Trophy, Spain, 1981. Recipient Professional Golf Association tour victories (21) Kentucky Derby Open, 1961, Lucky International Open, 1961, Sunshine Open 1961, Professional Golf Association Championship, 1962, 72, San Diego Open, 1963, Pensacola Open, 1964, 500 Festival Open, 1964, United States Open, 1965, Tournament of Champions, 1969, 78, Greater Greensboro Open, 1970, Jacksonville Open, 1971, National Airlines Open, 1971, New Orleans Open, 1972, Southern Open, 1973, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, 1974, Houston Open, 1978, (Senior Professional Golf Association tours) (19) Quadel Senior Classic, 1985, General Foods Professional Golf Association Srs. Championship, 1986, 88, 90, United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship, Denver Post Champions of Golf, Mazda Senior Tournament Players Champion, 1987, Northville Srs., 1987, United States Senior Open, 87, 88, PaineWebber World Srs. Invitational, Aetna Challenge, 1988, Southwestern Bell Classic, 1988, United States Golf Association Srs., 1988, Senior British Open, 1988, 90, 97, GTE North Classic, The R. J Reynolds Tobacco Company Championship, Royal Caribbean Classic, 1991, Bank One Classic, 1993, 95, Northville Long Island Classic, 1998.

3rd man in history to win Grand Slam of Golf. Winner over 150 international golf tournaments, 22 Senior Tour tournaments. Named Christian Athlete of Year Southern Baptist Convention, 1967, Sportsman of the Year in South Africa, 1955, 56, 59, 61, 63, 65, 72, 74, 78, South African Sportsman of the Century, 1990.

Richardson award Golf Writers Association American, 1975. Named to World Golf Hall of Fame, 1974. Honorary member R&A, 1994, Skills Challenge, 1994.

Won East Rand Open, South Africa, 1955-1956, Egyptian Mathchplay, 1955, South African Open, 1956, 60, 65-69, 72, 75-77, 79, 81, Dunlop Tournament, England, 1956, Ampol Tournament, Australia, 1956, 58, 61, Australian Professional Golf Association, 1957, Coughs Harbour Tournament, Australia, 1957-1958, Natal Open, South Africa, 1958-1960, 62, 66, 68, Australian Open, 1958, 62-63, 65, 69-70, 74, Transvaal Open, South Africa, 1959, 60, 62, 63, 66, South African Professional Golf Association, 1959-1960, 69, 79, 82, Western Province Open, South Africa, 1959-1960, 68, 71-72, Dunlop Masters, South Africa, 1959-1960, 63-64, 67, 71-74, 76-77, British Open, 1959, 68, 74, Victoria Open, 1959, Yomiuri Open, Japan, 1961, Masters Tournament, 1961, 74, 78, Sponsored 5000, South Africa, 1963, Liquid Air Tournament, South Africa, 1963, Richelieu Grand Prix, Capetown, 1963, Johannesburg, 1963, NTL Challenge Cup, 1965, World Cup International, 1965, World Series of Golf, 1965, 68, 72, Picadilly World Match Play, England, 1965, 66, 68, 71, 73, Australian Wills Masters, 1968, 69, Dunlop International, Australia, 1970, General Motors Open, South Africa, 1971, 73, 74, 75, 76, Japan Airlines Open, 1972, Brazilian Open, 1972, 74, Rand International Open, South Africa, 1974, General Motors International Classic, South Africa, 1974, Ibergolf Tournament, Spain, 1974, La Manga Tournament, Spain, 1974, General Motors Classic, 1975, International Computers Limited Transvaal, South Africa, 1977, World Cup Individual, The Philippines, 1977, Knonenbrau Masters, South Africa, 1979, Sun City, South American, 1979, Chilean Open, 1980, Trophee Boigny, Ivory Coast, 1980, Australian Tooth Gold Coast Classic, 1981, Johnnie Walker Trophy, Spain, 1981. Recipient Professional Golf Association tour victories (21) Kentucky Derby Open, 1961, Lucky International Open, 1961, Sunshine Open 1961, Professional Golf Association Championship, 1962, 72, San Diego Open, 1963, Pensacola Open, 1964, 500 Festival Open, 1964, United States Open, 1965, Tournament of Champions, 1969, 78, Greater Greensboro Open, 1970, Jacksonville Open, 1971, National Airlines Open, 1971, New Orleans Open, 1972, Southern Open, 1973, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, 1974, Houston Open, 1978, (Senior Professional Golf Association tours) (19) Quadel Senior Classic, 1985, General Foods Professional Golf Association Srs. Championship, 1986, 88, 90, United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship, Denver Post Champions of Golf, Mazda Senior Tournament Players Champion, 1987, Northville Srs., 1987, United States Senior Open, 87, 88, PaineWebber World Srs.

Invitational, Aetna Challenge, 1988, Southwestern Bell Classic, 1988, United States Golf Association Srs., 1988, Senior British Open, 1988, 90, 97, GTE North Classic, The R. J Reynolds Tobacco Company Championship, Royal Caribbean Classic, 1991, Bank One Classic, 1993, 95, Northville Long Island Classic, 1998.

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Gary Jim Player Edit Profile

Background

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Career

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Born

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Awards