Gary Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 1, 1935, A South African professional golfer with nine major championship victories, he is great golfers in the history of golf.

Because of the distances and number of tournaments in disparate places, Player has logged more than 15 million miles in travel. He has accumulated various nicknames like the Black Knight, Mr. Fitness, and the International Ambassador of Golf. He has become renowned golf course architect with more than 300 design projects throughout the world.

Black Knight International represents his business interests, which include Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, and Gary Player Enterprises, aspects of which include licensing, events, publishing, wine, apparel and memorabilia.

Player’s mother, Muriel died of cancer when he was eight years old. His father, Harry, worked away from home in the gold mines, yet, found the time to purchase Gary’s first set of golf clubs. And so, just like that, Gary at 14 played his first round of golf and parred the first three holes. At age 16 he announced that he would become number one in the world. At 17 he became a professional golfer.

With at least a hundred andsixty-six professional wins, Player ranks third (behind Roberto de Vicenzo and Sam Snead). He is tied for fourthin major championship victories with nine. Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were referred to as “The Big Three” golfers of the era from the late 1950s through the late 1970s. That is when golf boomed in the United States and around the world, in part because of expanded television coverage.

Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus andTiger Woods are the only five players to win golf’s “career GrandSlam”. Player completed his GrandSlam in 1965 at the age of twenty-nine. Gary Player was the second multi-time majors winner from South Africa, following from Bobby Locke, and succeeded by Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

In 1983, The Player Foundation established the Blair AthollSchools in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has educational facilities for more than 500 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2008 it celebrated its 25th Anniversary with charity golf events in London, Palm Beach, Shanghai and Cape Town, bringing its total of funds raised to over US $30 million.

Player was the only golfer in the 20th century to win the (British) Open in three different decades; as a 23-year-old in 1959 and in 1968 and 1974. He has won 9 Major golf championships in his career.

In 2000 he was voted “Sportsman of the Century” in South Africa. In 1966, Gary Player was awarded the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 and “Gary Player — A Global Journey” exhibition launched by the Hall of Fame as of March, 2006.

In 2000, Player was ranked as the eighth greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine.

On 10 April 2009, he played for the last time in The Masters, where he was playing for his record 52nd time. He was the last of The Big Three (Nicklaus, Player & Palmer) to retire from this tournament, a testament to his longevity.

On 23 July 2009, at the age of 73, Player competed in the Senior British Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club, 53 years after capturing his maiden European Tour victory at the Berkshire venue.

In 1983, The Player Foundation established the Blair AthollSchools in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has educational facilities for more than 500 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2008 it celebrated its 25th Anniversary with charity golf events in London, Palm Beach, Shanghai and Cape Town, bringing its total of funds raised to over US $30 million.

Player married wife Vivienne on January 19, 1957, four years after turning professional. Together they have six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa and Amanda. He is also a grandfather to 21 grandchildren. During the early days of his career Player would travel from tournament to tournament with wife, 6 children, nanny and a tutor in tow.

Eldest son Marc, owns and operates Black Knight International, which represents Player in all his commercial activities, including golf course design and real estate development.

He is also the brother of world renowned wildlife conservationist Dr. Ian Player who saved the white rhino from extinction.