Gary Player once claimed that he thinks he would have been banned from Augusta National for life had he not lipped out on a handful of occasions during the final round of The Masters in 1978.
It is nearly 50 years since Player won The Masters for the third and final time. His last victory at the iconic Georgia golf course was perhaps his greatest.
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The South African began the final round in 10th place, seven shots adrift of Hubert Green.
And eight holes into Player’s last round, there was little indication of what was to come. He stood on the ninth tee at one under par for the day, having made two birdies and one bogey.
What Gary Player said about his comeback to win The Masters in 1978
He went on to make seven birdies in his final 10 holes to get to 11 under par for the tournament. The likes of Green, Tom Watson, and Rod Funseth finished one shot behind the Black Knight. Player tied the course record at the time with a 64.
Remarkably, Player believes that the victory could have been even more comfortable.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2017, he suggested that he very nearly achieved something that may not have gone down well with those involved with one of the game’s most exclusive clubs.
“I was seven shots behind Tom Watson, and shot 64 with a bogey. I came back in 30 and lipped out three times, so I almost came back with 27,” he said.
“If I’d come back in 27 I’d have been barred for life! You don’t do that at Augusta!”
Gary Player picks between The Masters and The Open Championship
It is probably fair to say that Player has not always had the easiest relationship with Augusta National, though he remains one of the ceremonial starters each year.
Given how well Player looks for his age, it would come as no surprise if he is still there when Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are the legendary figures kicking off the tournament in the future.
Player embraced his position as a global ambassador for the game. So perhaps it is no surprise that he was emphatic in his response when asked in the same interview to pick between The Masters and The Open Championship.
“Without a doubt, I choose The Open. No disrespect to The Masters, which I love, but The Open Championship is the oldest and most historic professional golf tournament in the world,” he said.
“I love links golf courses. You can run the ball up, you can hit it high, you can draw or fade it. That’s why the Open is the most important tournament. By far. It tests your balls!”
Given that Player won both championships on three occasions, he is perhaps better qualified than anyone else to pick between the two.
Having said that, while many will agree with Player, there will be just as many who view The Masters as the greatest event in the game.
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