Gary Player
Awards & Honours
27
Awards Won
5
Honours
4
Rankings
3
Covers
3
Records
Gary Player stands alone in the history of golf as the only non-American to achieve the modern career grand slam. His nine major championship wins place him third on the all-time list, behind only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He was the first golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. His contributions to fitness and course design have earned him induction into multiple halls of fame and countless honorary degrees.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Awarded by President Donald Trump for contributions to sports and humanity.
Kennedy Center Honors
Recognized for lifetime contributions to American culture through the arts.
Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo
One of South Africa's highest honors for service to the nation.
Member of the Order of Australia
For services to golf and charity.
Honorary Doctorate
Awarded for outstanding contributions to sports and society.
Rankings & Lists
Top 100 Athletes of the Century
100 Greatest South Africans
50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century
Golfer of All Time
Magazine Covers
TIME
May 1965
The Greatest Golfer Alive
Golf Digest
January 1970
The Black Knight's Legacy
Vanity Fair
September 1985
A Life in Black
Records & Feats
First Non-American Career Grand Slam
Completed the modern career grand slam in 1965, a feat unmatched by any non-American until today.
Oldest Major Winner on Champions Tour
Won a major championship on the Champions Tour at age 70 in 2005.
Most Senior Major Wins
Holds the record for the most senior major championship wins in history.