Gary Player says it is impossible to compare golfers of different eras.
Player said, “We raked the bunkers using our feet,” at the Sports Business Club of the Palm Beaches’ event held at the Palm Beach Kennel Club on Monday. “We had wooden heads, heavy shafts. It’s completely different… Wow.
It’s because they don’t understand what they’re saying when they compare golfers to other people. It’s now impossible.”
The 87-year old Player was asked to rank the greatest of all times.
He said that Bobby Jones was “possibly the greatest player to ever live”. He used a walking-stick as a shaft. You played with a ball that traveled 80 yards less.”
He said Ben Hogan is “the best golfer I’ve ever seen from the tees to the greens.” He knew more about swinging than anyone I’ve met by far. Ben Hogan’s grave would be turned if he knew what the pros were teaching on the backswing.
Player, who has won nearly 160 professional tournaments, including nine majors on both the PGA Tour & Tour Champions, paused for a second.
“If you’re going to choose the top five people, write down what they did, right?” The people don’t like to do it. It doesn’t matter how long the person hits. No ifs. “Everyone has an if,” said Player who lives on Jupiter Island part-time.
Gary Player, honorary starter at The Masters, greets Jack Nicklaus on the first tee. (Photo: Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Sports).
Player was asked about his “brother”, Jack Nicklaus, a North Palm Beach resident and PGA Tour winner who has won a total of 18 majors and eight Tour Champions titles.
After that, I’m not sure. Tiger Woods, I believe. He was unlucky. He was unfortunate. What would have happened if it never happened?
There’s the “if. ‘”
