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Gary Player once named his most favorite golfer to watch play the game
TL;DR
Gary Player, a legendary golfer with 159 tournament wins, has named his favorite golfer to watch. The 90-year-old continues to be a prominent voice in the golf community.
Key points
- Gary Player is a legendary golfer.
- He won 159 tournaments worldwide.
- Player has nine major championships.
- He is now 90 years old.
- Player is an outspoken figure in golf.
Mentioned in this story
Gary Player
Photo by Benjamin Gilbert/Augusta National/Getty Images
Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers to have ever graced the game.
Player won an incredible 159 tournaments worldwide throughout his career, including nine major championships.
The 90-year-old has become one of the most outspoken figures in the game since he stopped playing competitively.
Gary Player is often found criticising some of the biggest PGA Tour stars of the modern era.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
However, he does reserve special praise for a very select few.
And one of the modern greats received Player’s backing more than a decade ago now.
Gary Player once named Rory McIlroy as his favorite golfer to watch
Rory McIlroy is an exceptional talent, and he has arguably been the best and most consistent golfer over the past 15 years.
The 36-year-old has 30 PGA Tour wins and 21 DP World Tour victories to his name, including six major championships.
Player named the Northern Irishman when asked by AQ back in 2015 which golfer he enjoys watching play the most.
“Rory McIlroy, he is playing wonderfully.“
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Payne’s Valley Cup
Of course, since those comments, McIlroy has won two more majors, with both of those victories coming at Augusta National.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman also became only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam in 2025, joining Player, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods in the ultra-exclusive club.
Rory McIlroy has Gary Player in his sights
The challenge now for McIlroy will be to continue winning regularly on the PGA Tour and of course, to increase his major championship haul.
By doing that, he will cement his legacy as one of the greatest golfers ever to have lived.
Gary Player is definitely ahead of Rory McIlroy on the all-time greats list right now.
However, would anyone back against the two-time Masters champion overtaking the South African by the time he’s done playing?
It would be foolhardy to do so, in my opinion.
Q&A
Who did Gary Player name as his favorite golfer to watch?
The article does not specify the name of Gary Player's favorite golfer to watch.
How many major championships did Gary Player win?
Gary Player won nine major championships during his illustrious career.
What is Gary Player known for besides his golf achievements?
Besides his golf achievements, Gary Player is known for being an outspoken figure in the golf community.
