‘Unthinkable Has Happened’ – Gary Player Mourns the Death of His Wife and Childhood Sweetheart Vivienne

The golf community is mourning as Gary Player’s wife Vivienne has passed away after a long battle with cancer. The Hall of Famer’s wife was fighting pancreatic cancer for a year. The golf icon released a heartbreaking statement, mourning the loss of the love of his life.

“I cannot describe the deep sense of sadness I feel at having lost the one person who has always meant the world to me,” he wrote, also sharing pictures of him and his wife together. He added that Vivienne was the constant in his life for his entire life. The couple met when Player was 14, and are childhood sweethearts.

Gary Player pens emotional statement for his late wife

By the end of his statement, Player mentions how they met, admitting that it was love at first sight for him. “When we first met, I had no doubt it was love at first sight and it turned out to be a love story of a lifetime,” Player said. “I believe it will also be so when we are finally together again. Until then, I will miss my Viv dearly”.

He explained that his wife taught him what love, faith, and trust was – imparting the same values to their children. “She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a wonderful human being who cared so deeply for others and lived her life in service to others”.

Like mentioned, the couple met when they were young, Player asking her to marry him when he was only 15 years old. They ended up marrying on January 19, 1957, and had been together for 64 years this year. They have six children, 22 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren together. In his statement, Player shares that Vivienne raised their kids single-handedly while he was traveling and touring.

The R&A, PGA Tour, and many others also extended their condolences.

READ MORE: Tiger Woods’ Backup Putter From 2002 Is on Sale for an Eye-Popping Price