Gary Player - The Legend

Time to Say Goodbye - Gary Player Bids Farewell to the Masters

Player's First Masters Victory in 1961.

2003 marks Gary Player’s final competitive appearance at Augusta National.

After 46 appearances, Gary Player’s routine annual pilgrimage to the greens of Augusta National will finally and sadly come to an end. 2003 is full of milestones for Player, including his 50th year anniversary as a professional golfer, but competing in the Masters for the last time might be this year’s low point for the 67 year-old golfing legend. Gary Player has a tremendous history at Augusta National having won there three times (`61, `74 and `78), so as one can imagine, it will be hard to say goodbye. The “Black Knight” also holds a number of tournament records. To name a few, he was the first international player to win the Masters; he is the oldest three-time winner; he holds the record for the most consecutive cuts made with 23; and he still has the lowest ever final round victory score of 64.

“I’d really liked to have played 50 times,” Player said. “But I have never been bitter about anything, I accept the new rule, and this will be my last competitive Masters and final major tournament appearance of my career.”

On the eve of the tournament, Masters Chairman Hootie Johnson will honor Gary Player with a special tribute dinner. Player has returned to Augusta to play in the Masters every year since 1957 (except 1973) - a streak that next year will be broken.

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