Player Ready For Golden Moment
By: MIKE GARBETT
Media General News Service

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Gary Player’s love affair with the Masters and Augusta National is as strong today as it was when he first stepped on the course. He says he has cherished every moment on the grounds, and no one would argue he is among the club’s greatest ambassadors.

Will this ever be a special week, then.

When the jovial South African tees off Thursday, he will take his place alongside Arnold Palmer as the only players to compete in 50 Masters.

“Augusta will always be a special place for me,” Player, 71, said during his stop in the Bay area for the Champions Tour’s Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. “I’m grateful for all the time I have had there.”

Moreover, even after all these years, the competitive juices haven’t dried up and he still relishes the idea of topping his longtime friend and rival.

“I’d like to beat the record by one,” Player said. [Jack Nicklaus, Palmer and I] always competed against each other. I guess it’s just natural.”

The three-time champion has a lifetime of Masters memories, starting with meeting Augusta National co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts after making his first trip up Magnolia Lane in 1957. He also met President Eisenhower, who helped make the Masters the prestigious event it has become, during his first visit.

Four years later, Player slipped on a green jacket for the first time, becoming the first international player to win the Masters. He added titles in 1974 and ’78, the latter coming at age 42 and marking the last of his nine major titles.

Player has spent the past half-century becoming one of Augusta’s most enduring champions. Even though he hasn’t made the cut since 1998, when he finished 46th, Masters patrons still save one of their loudest ovations for when Player is introduced on the first tee.

“The fans have always been great to me,” said Player, one of six South Africans in this year’s field.

To commemorate his 50th appearance, Player said he’s renting three houses in the Augusta area for family and friends.

In addition, he will donate his clothing, hats, gloves, golf bag and golf balls to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, to be part of the “Gary Player: A Global Journey” exhibit that will be on display through the end of the year. The bag was custom designed by Callaway Golf to celebrate his milestone appearance.

Player, who has played in five Champions Tour events this year and shot better than his age twice and equaled it three times during those 15 rounds, is one of five men with the career grand slam. In addition to three Masters titles, he has won three British Opens, two PGA Championships and one U.S. Open.

Player said during Outback week he likely would accept a role as one of the tournament’s honorary starters in 2009 — that role has been vacant since Sam Snead hit the last ceremonial tee shot five years ago — and was leaning toward breaking the appearances record next year. But he also has cautioned that the deciding factor could be how competitive his game is leading up to the ’08 Masters.

Palmer, a four-time Masters champion who recently said he has given “careful consideration” to becoming an honorary starter, says he is in awe of Player’s seemingly never-ending drive and ambition.

“Gary Player is going to do whatever he can to top whatever I’ve done,” said Palmer, whose last Masters appearance was in 2004. “That includes living longer or whatever. He is a never-ending guy that travels all the time. I wouldn’t do what he does, to tell you the truth.”

“Augusta will always be

a special place for me.”

MIKE GARBETT is a staff writer for The Tampa Tribune