Worldwide Golf

GARY Player, one of the true legends of golf, will play a hole in an Invitational tournament in the UAE for the first time.

The Black Knight is a winner of nine Majors and nine Senior Majors in a career that saw him claim his first title back in 1955, in Egypt. Since then he has won 167 official tournaments worldwide, travelling more than 14 million miles, and is universally recognised as golf’s greatest international player.

At Emirates Golf Club on Friday April 24 Player will host The Worldwide Golf 100th Anniversary Invitational presented by ECCO under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum.

Player, who was part of the legendary Big 3 with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and is one of only five players to have won all four Majors, will also host a brunch at Emirates Golf Club, organised by the South African Business Council, attended by The Ambassador, H.E. Yacoob Abba Omar. Player will then do a clinic on the driving range prior to the 18-hole, shotgun start, Invitational.

Player will play the par-3 seventh hole on the Majlis Course with each of the fourballs competing in the Invitational. Earlier this year the 73-year-old, who is arguably the fittest player in Senior Golf, beat his age on three successive days at the 7,100 yards Hualalai course in Hawaii in a U.S. Champions Tour event, shooting 70-71-71

The charity event will conclude with an Awards Dinner at Emirates Golf Club hosted by Player.

The South African Hall of Famer has amassed numerous awards throughout his 56-year career, captained the International Team in The Presidents Cup in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

“I have nothing but admiration for Sheikh Mohammed and his remarkable vision in creating such a thriving business, tourism and golfing centre in Dubai. I have been a frequent visitor to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman over the years and I am really looking forward to hosting the Worldwide Golf 100th Anniversary Invitational at the Emirates Golf Club,” said Player.

“It will be an opportunity to renew some old friendships and make some new ones and I hope it will be a day that all who attend will recall as an occasion to remember.”