Gary Player Turns 79

Gary Player turned 79 on November 1. The South African spent his birthday preparing for the Chinese leg of his Gary Player Invitational (GPI) series as part of a global tour.

The GPI series, staged by Player's company Black Knight International, travels to the USA, Europe, China, South Africa, and Abu Dhabi to raise funds for the Player Foundation and its many worldwide charity beneficiaries. Since 1983, the foundation has raised nearly $60 million to aid underprivileged children. The event in China was played at the Shanghai Links Golf Club November 3-4 to support the Zhejiang Xinhua Compassion Education Foundation in providing meals for children in the rural areas of the country.

South Africa's most successful sportsman has often been called the most positive man in golf for his optimistic and cheerful views of life, which have translated well to the golf course as Player accumulated 165 global victories, including nine major titles.

Following his many achievements on the golf course, Player vowed to use his success in order to make an impact. "What we have done across the world with the Player Foundation has truly been one of my greatest accomplishments," he said. "Over the past 31 years, it is incredibly rewarding to give hope and create a brighter future for children in need."

The 2014 GPI series will conclude in South Africa later this month. Player sees this as an especially sensitive time in his home country considering the economic challenges facing it. "It has been a difficult time for us as a country, but we've faced many challenges before and our success has always been the unity this creates amongst ordinary South Africans who remain determined to make this country the miracle it is," an emotional Player said in China.

Player's compassion for his nation once again shined through as he spoke of his greatest wish at this time. "I've lived through so many changes in South Africa, from the breaking down of Apartheid to the new democracy led by our greatest leader, Nelson Mandela. And through it all, I've seen how resilient South Africans are," he said.

"My own career was built around what South Africa made me as a person. I had no more exceptional talent than the next man, but growing up in South Africa taught me how to work hard and go after your dreams and believe in yourself. Now is the time to keep that miracle alive and keep working to make this country great."

In addition to the continued work with the GPI series to fund the Player Foundation, the Black Knight is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of clinching his career Grand Slam. Player the only international golfer to achieve golf's greatest feat of winning each of golf's four major championships, matching the feat accomplished only by Americans Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

As for what he's looking forward to at the age of 79, the 1974 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee said, "Life. It is a beautiful thing. I'm anticipating another fantastic year and have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon."

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