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Cape Town - Widely regarded as South Africa's greatest ever sportsman, Gary Player turns 78 today!
It's a double celebration for the Black Night as he's affectionately know, as Player also celebrates his 60th anniversary as a professional golfer in 2013.
Player, born in Johannesburg, has 24 PGA Tour victories to his name, 73 on the Sunshine Tour and 19 on the Champions Tour - as well as 134
'other' wins on both the regular and senior tours.
Player also has nine Major victories to his name - Masters (1961, 1974, 1978), US Open (1965), Open Championship (1959, 1968, 1974) and PGA Championship (1962, 1972).
Among his numerous honours, Player was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
Player will celebrate his birthday by adding to his over 25 million kilometres traveled in flying to China where he will help to raise money for AIDS orphans through the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in Shanghai.
In July 2013, Player became the oldest athlete ever to pose nude in ESPN The Magazine's annual Body Issue which he hoped would inspire people to keep looking after themselves throughout their lives.
“Focusing on fitness and my health early on in my career has allowed me to still be going strong at the age of 78. I am fit, I am healthy, and as long as I remain so, I will continue to travel and educate as many young people as I can,” Player said.
Happy 78th Birthday, Mr Player.
Sport24 salute you...
SA's Black Knight (Supplied)
Gary Player gets down and jiggy (Gallo Images)
It's a double celebration for the Black Night as he's affectionately know, as Player also celebrates his 60th anniversary as a professional golfer in 2013.
Player, born in Johannesburg, has 24 PGA Tour victories to his name, 73 on the Sunshine Tour and 19 on the Champions Tour - as well as 134
'other' wins on both the regular and senior tours.
Player also has nine Major victories to his name - Masters (1961, 1974, 1978), US Open (1965), Open Championship (1959, 1968, 1974) and PGA Championship (1962, 1972).
Among his numerous honours, Player was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
Player will celebrate his birthday by adding to his over 25 million kilometres traveled in flying to China where he will help to raise money for AIDS orphans through the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in Shanghai.
In July 2013, Player became the oldest athlete ever to pose nude in ESPN The Magazine's annual Body Issue which he hoped would inspire people to keep looking after themselves throughout their lives.
“Focusing on fitness and my health early on in my career has allowed me to still be going strong at the age of 78. I am fit, I am healthy, and as long as I remain so, I will continue to travel and educate as many young people as I can,” Player said.
Happy 78th Birthday, Mr Player.
Sport24 salute you...
SA's Black Knight (Supplied)
Gary Player gets down and jiggy (Gallo Images)
