The 55 Greatest Gary Player Photos of All-Time

1 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the youngest of Harry and Muriel Player's three children.

2 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player was 14 years old when he went on his first date (pictured) with his future wife, Vivienne Verwey, who was working part-time behind the counter at a pro shop.

3 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player entered the Ampol Golf Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, and told Vivienne he would marry her if he won. Player was victorious, and he and Vivienne were married on January 19, 1957.

4 of 55 Courtesy Black Knight International

Player won the 1959 British Open, the first of nine career major titles.

5 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

As Player's fame grew he began to cross paths with celebrities, including Elvis Presley on the set of 'Blue Hawaii' in 1961.

6 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Vivienne traveled the world with Gary throughout his career.

7 of 55 AP

Player won the 1961 Masters for his first of three green jackets.

8 of 55 Courtesy Black Knight International

9 of 55 Heinz Kluetmeier

10 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

11 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player and Vivienne raised six children on their ranch in South Africa.

12 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player combined to win 34 major championships.

13 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player celebrated a putt at the 1965 Masters, but he would finish tied for second. He went on to win the next major that year, the U.S. Open.

14 of 55 Walter Iooss Jr./SI

15 of 55 Francis Golden - Artwork

16 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player participated in many rounds under the watchful eyes of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

17 of 55 Art Rickerby

May 8, 1961Read the Articles

18 of 55 Walter Iooss/SI

Player won the 1974 Masters for his second green jacket. That summer he also won the British Open. It was the only year that Player won more than one major title.

19 of 55 Edward Sorel - Artwork

20 of 55 Walter Iooss/SI

Player won the 1974 British Open with caddie Alfred "Rabbit" Dyer on his bag. Dyer was the first African-American to caddie at the Open.

21 of 55 Jerry Cooke/SI

Shown here at Augusta in 1976, Player won the Masters in 1961, 1974 and 1978.

22 of 55 Walter Iooss Jr.

23 of 55 Courtesy of Black Knight International

Player continued to compete against Arnold and Jack on the senior circuit. Player won nine more majors on the Senior Tour.

24 of 55 Walter Iooss Jr.

25 of 55 Peter Kemp/AP

Player chatted with a photographer during a practice round at St. Andrews before the 1995 British Open. That week Player became, at 59, the oldest player to make a cut at a British Open.

26 of 55 Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Player won the 1997 Senior British Open in a playoff for his final major championship victory on the senior circuit and ninth overall.

27 of 55 Dave Martin/AP

In 1998 Player, 62, became the oldest golfer to make the cut at the Masters. He also holds the record for most consecutive cuts made at Augusta with 23.