Being the only player in the world to win the Senior Grand Slam is by far my greatest achievement. They have all tried—Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino— the whole lot of them have tried, and I am
the only one. –GARY PLAYER
even though he worked in the gold mines and made only a 100 pounds a month working 10,000 feet underground— sent me to one of the best schools in the world. South Africa’s top
schools are probably the top schools in the world, which comes as a shock to most people. You have gymnasium three times a week, different languages, all sports. You have almost Olympic-quality facilities to participate in sports. You had debating, a high standard of education. You
How would you describe yourself? Hardworking, a love for people, try to contribute to society, a person who is very grateful for everything. ••• You are regarded as the greatest golfer to come out of South Africa. How did growing up in Johannesburg shape you? I had a very tough upbringing. My mother died when I was 8, and my brother went to war with the British and Americans when he was 17. I was lucky my father—
had world education, not just one’s own country. •••
How did you get into golf? My father played. Working on the mines, they allowed him to play, and he invited me out one day. I was playing soccer and cricket and athletics and swim- ming, and I said, “No, golf is a sissy’s game, not for me.” But thank god I learned
to play golf, because it is the greatest sport of all. It is the sport with the greatest longev- ity. It is the only sport that I
know of that you can continue to make more money when you get to age 80 than you did when you were world cham- pion—so it is an incredible sport. You can keep interested in it forever. Even at 78 now, I am getting close to 80—I still average about 70. I am still traveling all over the world designing golf courses, and do- ing corporate days and a lot of huge work in charity work. ••• You were one of fi ve players to win the career grand slam. Is that your greatest achieve- ment in golf? No. Being the
only player in the world to win the Senior Grand Slam is by far my greatest achievement. They have all tried—Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino—the whole lot of them have tried, and I am the only one.
I was able to do it because
of my fi tness regime. It makes a massive difference when you get to 50. •••
Of your nine major champion- ships on the PGA Tour, are any more memorable than the others? I think my fi rst British Open, because I wanted to win the grand slam. It was my fi rst
WINTER 2014 /
NCGA.ORG / 45
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