Three-times Masters winner Gary Player is one of the finest players to compete at Augusta, but his legend wasn’t enough to have one of his wishes granted at the famous course.
Gary Player has been left heartbroken by golf officials(Image: 2025 Augusta National)
Masters icon Gary Player, who won the event three times, has admitted Augusta officials left him heart-broken when they forbade him from playing a round of golf with his grandchildren at the iconic course.
When it comes to The Masters, the 90-year-old South African is one of the most iconic players of the major. He appeared in every rendition of the competition between 1957 and 2009 and lifted the title in 1961, 1974 and 1978.
While he’s one of the best ever performers at Augusta, he’s actually not a formal member of the club. As a result, when he turned up at the iconic course and asked to play a round of golf with his grandchildren, Augusta officials told him he was not allowed.
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They stated that only official members are allowed to bring guests with them to play a round of golf at the east Georgia course. Considering his history and the work he has done as a representative of the course, Player could not believe it when they said no to his request.
Speaking to Golf Monthly, he said: “I have been an ambassador for Augusta for all these years, yet they won’t let me have one round of golf in my life with my three grandsons.
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“My grandsons are dying to know about their grandfather’s episodes on that golf course. All the golf courses that have hosted The Open, the U.S. Open and the PGA would oblige, but they won’t do it at Augusta.
“It is just this current management there. These are the times we live in and I accept it, but I accept it with sadness.”
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Player is not listed as an official member of Augusta, but his name is widely associated with the course. Three of his nine major titles were won at that venue.
Two of his long-term rivals Arnold Palmer, who passed away in September 2016, and Jack Nicklaus, who is still a member today, were both members of the club – which is still one of the most exclusive in the world. Palmer, Nicklaus and Player were once known as the ‘Big Three’ with the trio sharing seven Masters titles between them between 1960 and 1966.
Gary Player is viewed as a legend at Augusta.(Image: 2025 Augusta National)
Considering the brilliance all three displayed at Augusta, Player is even more disappointed with the snub from the Augusta officials. He added: “We fought it out every year.
“Then we made Augusta thanks to the coverage and publicity we generated around The Masters, whether the club likes to admit it or not. They won’t admit it, but we made Augusta.”
Masters great Gary Player wants to play a round at Augusta with his grandchildren.(Image: 2013 Getty Images)
Player is not the only one who has a splintered relationship with the exclusive club. His son, Wayne, was banned from the course forever in 2021, when he disrupted a tribute being paid to Lee Elder as part of a marketing stunt.
Wayne wrote a letter to apologise for his stunt, which saw him lift up a box of branded golf balls while he stood behind Elder in his wheelchair – but it fell on deaf ears.
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