The golf world has been in splits since 2022, after the inception of LIV Golf. Gary Player addressed the issue a while ago and shared how it was because Greg Norman clashed with the PGA Tour that caused the entire ruckus, and he went on to create his league. This is not the first time he has done it. He also made his event, Greg Norman International, in 1994. And now he has been taking in some of the best golfers and will keep doing so.

Taking to this, Gary Player said, “And now when you win a tournament, can you honestly say, ‘I’m beating the best in the world? We have played; we wanted to beat the best, and let me tell you, you had Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Lee Trevino.”

He even added he had no idea what would eventually happen with the golf world and if they could compensate legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. While this was supposed to bring in appreciation, he only received criticism from the fans, and people called it ‘yapping’. But as it seems, weeks later, he has finally redeemed himself in the eyes of the fans—that too with what he is best at. 

Gary Player was part of the field with one of his 22 grandkids, Alexander Hall, at the 2024 PNC Championship. On the final day, a few hours ago, the 89 YO displayed why it is still regarded as the legend of golf. He finished the tournament at the Ritz Carlton with an exceptional eagle shot. Even the PGA Tour Champions took to their official Instagram account and shared the video. In the caption they wrote, “What a moment ❤️”.

He finally managed to cool down the audience and win their hearts. And most importantly, he did it with his game.

The golf community dubs Gary Player a living legend 

Sunday was a round of miracles at the Ritz Carlton. Tiger Woods’s son made a memorable hole-in-one, marking the shot of his life, but it was Bernhard Langer who delivered the decisive blow on Sunday. Langer sank an 18-foot eagle putt in a playoff to defeat Woods and his son Charlie Woods in an exciting showdown at the PNC Championship. And then came in Gary Player’s exceptional shot. Taking to this, one of them commented, “Gary Player eagle on 18 and Charlie Woods ace. Time is crazy.”

It’s incredible to think that Gary Player, who won the Career Grand Slam in 1965, was nearing the end of his career when Tiger Woods was born in 1975. Fast forward to today, and Player, now a living legend, competes alongside Tiger’s son, Charlie, in the same tournament— the PNC Championship. It’s a surreal moment where the past and future of golf collide, with Charlie carrying on the Woods legacy while Player, who witnessed Tiger’s rise, continues to be part of the game’s rich history. Taking to this, one of them wrote, “Gary Player won the grand slam in 1965 and is playing in the same tournament as Tiger Woods’s son. Tiger was born around the time Gary retired from the tour. Unreal”.

Gary Player was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, and long before that, he earned the nickname “Mr. Fitness” in the 1950s due to his strict exercise regimen. In an era when fitness routines were rare among golfers, Player’s dedication to physical conditioning set him apart. Now, at 89, the nickname feels more fitting than ever, as he continues to exemplify the importance of fitness in both golf and life. One of them commented, “Such a role model for staying fit & active after 80🦵💪”. Another was left in awe looking at the flexibility he had for an 89 YO. Taking to this, they wrote, “That’s some flexibility right there”.

Gary Player has won nine major championships during his reign in the PGA Tohr and nine more at the PGA Champions. If his tenure was ago he accumulated, the golfer won over 150 championships in seven decades. Focusing on this, another simply wrote, “Living legend. Wow.”

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