While the top-class line-up battle for birdies in the first round of the Investec South African Open at Blair Atholl on Thursday, the man who designed this sensational golf course – Gary Player – can reflect on one of his own SA Open victories exactly 50 years ago, writes Grant Winter.
Player, incredibly, won 13 SA Opens and the eighth of these, in 1972, was at Royal Johannesburg. On the iconic East Course, Gary trailed Harold Henning at the halfway stage and was despondent about his form.
But some brilliant play in the third round saw him shoot 66 while in the final round a run of birdies at holes 6, 7, 8 and 9 helped him to a 68, an aggregate of 274, and victory by one over Bobby Cole.
Today at Blair Atholl, nine-time Major champion Player can reflect back on 1972 being a golden year for him although – to be honest – virtually every year for 42 years from 1955, when he scored his maiden professional victory in the Egyptian Match Play – to 1997 – when he won the last of his nine Senior Majors, were golden years for him.
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— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) November 30, 2022
One of Gary’s nine Majors was 50 years ago in the 1972 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. He led by one through three rounds and on the morning of the final round he made a call home to South Africa to his father who told him “Win it for me, son.”
Gary did precisely that, with a 281 aggregate on what was viewed as a beast of a course by the contestants, to finish two clear of Tommy Aaron and Jim Jamieson.
And the little South African played one of the greatest shots in Major history in the final round to set up victory. At the par-4 16th hole his drive finished in wet grass in the rough, with the pin hidden by a tree.
His nine-iron approach soared over the tree and the lake guarding the green and settled just three feet from the pin. In went the birdie putt and victory, in effect, was secure.
Globe-trotter Player, incidentally, in 1972 also won the Western Province Open, at Royal Cape, the Dunlop Masters at Kensington twice (one at the beginning of the year, one at the end), the New Orleans Open, the Japan Airlines Open and the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club where he edged out the great Jack Nicklaus by two.
So, 50 years ago, 1972 was indeed a golden year for Gary Player.
Now, 50 years on, at another beast of a course who among the current crop of current stars will make it a golden week at Blair Atholl to complete for them a golden year? We’ll find out in four days’ time. In the meantime, 87-year-old Mr Player, we salute you.