Editing Gary Player (section)

==Playing career==
Player is one of the most successful golfers in history, tied for fourth in [[Men's major golf championships|major championship]] victories with [[List of men's major championships winning golfers|nine]]. Along with [[Arnold Palmer]] and [[Jack Nicklaus]] he is often referred to as one of "The Big Three" golfers of his era – from the late 1950s through the late 1970s – when golf boomed in the United States and around the world and was greatly encouraged by expanded television coverage. Along with [[Gene Sarazen]], [[Ben Hogan]], Jack Nicklaus, [[Tiger Woods]] and [[Rory McIlroy]], he is one of only six players to win golf's "[[Grand Slam (golf)|career Grand Slam]]". He completed the Grand Slam in 1965 at the age of twenty-nine. Player was the second multiple majors winner from South Africa, following [[Bobby Locke]], then was followed by [[Ernie Els]], and [[Retief Goosen]].

Player competed regularly on the U.S. based [[PGA Tour]] from the late 1950s. He led the Tour money list in 1961, and went on to accumulate 24 career Tour titles. He also played an exceptionally busy schedule all over the world, and he has been called the world's most traveled athlete. Player has logged more than {{convert|26|e6km|e6mi|abbr=unit}} in air travel – in 2005 it was estimated that he had "probably flown further{{nbsp}}… than any athlete in history".<ref>{{cite web|title=Been, seen and conquered - Gary Player at 81|url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/sport/been-seen-and-conquered---gary-player-at-81/|website=Jacaranda FM|access-date=29 May 2017|date=1 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |title=Golf: Gary Player |first=Brad |last=Morgan |publisher=SouthAfrica.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202121737/http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |archive-date=2 December 2005}}</ref>

Player has more victories than anyone else in the [[South African Open (golf)|South African Open]] (13) and the [[Australian Open (golf)|Australian Open]] (7). He held the record for most victories in the [[Volvo World Match Play Championship|World Match Play Championship]], with five wins, from 1973 until 1991 when this feat was equalled by [[Seve Ballesteros]], finally losing his share of the record in 2004, when Ernie Els won the event for the sixth time. Player was in the top ten of [[Mark McCormack's world golf rankings]] from their inception in 1968 until 1981; he was ranked second in 1969, 1970 and 1972, each time to [[Jack Nicklaus]].

Player was the only player in the 20th century to win the British Open in three different decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |title=Golf: Gary Player |publisher=SouthAfrica.info |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202121737/http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/player.htm |archive-date=2 December 2005 }}</ref> His first win, as a 23-year-old in 1959 at [[Muirfield]], came after he double-bogeyed the last hole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx#player=Gary+PLAYER |title=1959 Gary Player |publisher=The Open |access-date=18 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016164928/http://www.theopen.com/en/History/OpenChampions.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2013 }}</ref> In 1974, he became one of the few golfers in history to win two major championships in the same season. Player last won the [[Masters Tournament|Masters]] in 1978, when he started seven strokes behind 54-hole leader [[Hubert Green]] entering the final round, and won by one shot with birdies at seven of the last 10 holes for a back nine 30 and a final round 64. One week later, Player again came from seven strokes back in the final round to win the [[Tournament of Champions (golf)|Tournament of Champions]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19780417&id=PtBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3384,3465753&hl=en|title=Incredible comeback|work=Star-News|date=17 April 1978}}</ref> In 1984, at the age of 48 Player nearly became the oldest ever major champion, finishing in second place behind [[Lee Trevino]] at the PGA Championship. And in gusty winds at the 1998 Masters, he became the oldest golfer ever to make the cut, breaking the 25-year-old record set by Sam Snead. Player credited this feat to his dedication to the concept of diet, health, practice and golf fitness.<ref>Hill, Susan: "Fit For Golf", page 34. Resort Living</ref>

Player has occasionally been accused of cheating, particularly in the 1974 Open; he has strongly denied the accusations. Later, at a skins game in Arizona in 1983, [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]] accused him of cheating by moving a leaf from behind his ball.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-the-paradox-that-is-gary-player-1329010.html|title=Golf: The paradox that is Gary Player|date=16 July 1996|work=The Independent}}</ref>

[[File:Gary Player - Fancourt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Player at the Fancourt Golf Resort in South Africa, 2008]]
Being South African, Player never played in the [[Ryder Cup]] in which American and European golfers compete against each other. Regarding the event, Player remarked, "The things I have seen in the Ryder Cup have disappointed me. You are hearing about hatred and war."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations |editor-first=Jim |editor-last=Apfelbaum |year=2007 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1602390140}}</ref> He was no longer an eligible player when the [[Presidents Cup]] was established to give international players the opportunity to compete in a similar event, but he was non-playing captain of the International Team for the [[Presidents Cup]] in 2003, which was held on a course he designed, The Links at Fancourt, in George, South Africa. After 2003 ended in a tie, he was reappointed as captain for the 2005 Presidents Cup, and his team lost to the Americans 15.5 to 18.5. Both Player and Jack Nicklaus were appointed to captain their respective teams again in 2007 in Canada; the United States won.

===Augusta National green jacket===
The green jacket is reserved for Augusta National members and golfers who win the [[Masters Tournament]]. Jackets are kept on club grounds, and taking them off the premises is forbidden. The exception is for the winner, who can take it home and return it to the club the following year. Player, who became the tournament's first international winner in 1961, said he did not know that. After losing a playoff in 1962 to Arnold Palmer, he packed the jacket and took it to his home in South Africa. That led to a call from club Chairman Clifford Roberts, who was a stickler for rules. "I didn't know you were supposed to leave it there," Player said. "Next thing you know, there was a call from Mr. Roberts."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/masters-traditions-green-jackets |title=Masters Traditions: Green Jackets |newspaper=The Augusta Chronicle |date=9 April 2017 |first=John |last=Boyette}}</ref>