You would think having a Hall of Famer for a granddad is cool. You know, with the free golf tips, hobnobbing with the who’s who of the game, and a spot at the PNC Championship even! It is that way for most, say someone like Jack Nicklaus’s grandson, GT. But if your granddad is Gary Player, you’ve got to earn it. Don’t get me wrong; Player doesn’t make them do 1000 squats; it’s just his clan includes six children, 22 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, most of who are, in some way, associated with golf. So, picking one for the PNC and snubbing others puts the nine-time major winner in a spot. And you can’t really think of rotating when you are months shy of 90. Solution?

In the 2000s, when PNC Championship used to be known as the Office Depot Father/Son Challenge, it was a simple affair for Gary to choose his PNC partner for his family was much smaller. He used to bring his son Wayne along. But what about now? Player has an answer: How about a qualifier to find a winner based on pure meritocracy?

This started some four years ago when Gary Player started hosting what he’d call the Grandsons Challenge, the Cousins Qualifier, or the Choker’s Cup. The format of the game, irrespective of the name, remains the same: an 18-hole match before the PNC Championship to decide his playing mate at the annual family event. This time, Player chose a Jack Nicklaus-designed course that had blustery conditions on a tough, tipped-out track. Those tight fairways and deep bunkers weren’t going to be easy to get a hang of.

This year, Player didn’t show up but had the stroke play event arranged at the Bear’s Club in Florida. Four of his grandkids were there to vie for one spot, including past Grandsons Challenge winner, Jordan Player. Eventually, Alexander Hall, who started playing golf just two-and-a-half years ago, outclassed his cousins by a whopping seven strokes. “I was very happy with that number,” Alex said in an exclusive interview with golf.com. “There was a ton of wind and it’s a very long course.” 

Now, although Alex admitted being “the most nervous I’ve ever been,” he’s not to be taken lightly either. Despite being homeschooled all his life, the 17-year-old is a member of the golf team for the Perkiomen School, a high school north of his hometown of Philadelphia. He has some experience of playing tournament golf in form of the Pennsylvania state championship. Not to forget, learning the fundamentals from the South African star, including a training period that lasted for a three-month stretch in South Africa, has already seen him carve a handicap of plus-1 already. Ever wondered how fans reacted to his selection process? Oh, they were unforgiving! 

Fans aren’t going to let Gary Player off the hook about his banned son any time soon!

It is no less thrilling than a Monday Qualifier, it seems. At least for those who are invested in it. Amanda-Leigh Hall, Alex’s mother commented, “A nail-biter to watch when it’s your son!!” But the comment most certainly drowned among the sea of criticisms being hurled at Player.  

Rolling back the pages a bit… at the 2021 Masters, the Honorary Starters Ceremony was touted to be a solemn event, one that would honor and recognize the efforts and courage shown by Lee Elder for he broke the tournament’s color barrier in 1975. Joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for the event’s opening tee shots, just hours after the honors, the moment, as touching as it was, came to be known for something else entirely. Player’s son, who was also serving as his caddie, Wayne, was standing behind Elder, in an attempt at guerrilla marketing, held a box of OnCore golf balls. Augusta National eventually took his badge away for the rest of the week and slammed a lifetime ban.

In what became of dark humor, fans just couldn’t resist making fun of the lengths Gary needs to go just to have a go at the PNC Championship. “When your son is banned from Augusta and probably the PNC too 😂,” said one user. Considering family feud took an intense turn that saw Gary suing his and grandson over alleged memorabilia dispute two years ago, this user took on a witty tangent, “I know one grandson that’s not invited.”

Because of his recurring legal disputes with family members, Player has received backlash from fans. One person wrote, “His legacy would have been much better if he had been more graceful rather than always a cash grab.” Back in 2020, Player won the lawsuit against his son, Marc, and received $5M. The nine-time major winner alleged that his son Marc, who ran the Gary Player Group, sold his trophies in an auction breaching the contract. 

Alex too became a subject of criticism. This user commented, “Completely stonewalling my cousin I’ve known my entire life as we’re both tied heading into the final stretch of holes because of how badly I want to lock in and win grandpa’s tournament.”

Seems it’s tough to be Gary Player and keep everyone happy. Team Player finished at the penultimate spot in the leaderboard 18 strokes short of Bernhard and Jason Langer.