Jack Nicklaus calls soon-to-be-90 Gary Player golf's 'global ambassador'

PALM BEACH GARDENS — Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus were rivals during their heyday, and part of golf’s original “Big Three,” along with Arnold Palmer.

Now, Player and Nicklaus live less than 20 miles from each other — Player on Jupiter Island, Nicklaus in North Palm Beach — and remain close.

Player, who turns 90 on Nov. 1, calls the 85-year-old Nicklaus the greatest golfer ever. Nicklaus recently said Player is golf’s “global ambassador.”

“He’s probably traveled more miles than anybody,” Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus was part of a panel at PGA National that spoke before the Oct. 27 Integra Connect Classic that benefits Conquer Cancer. “He’s played more golf than probably anybody, too. He plays golf every day.

“He’s a wonderful guy,” Nicklaus added. “He’s lived life to his fullest. He still plays very well. He just enjoys it. He’s given back to so many. He’s just a good guy.”

Player recently told The Palm Beach Post he ranks Nicklaus No. 1 all-time ahead of Tiger Woods, who also lives on Jupiter Island. He puts himself No. 3.

“Pretty good assessment,” Nicklaus said, before adding, “not about me, but about him.”

Nicklaus’ 18 major championships on the PGA Tour are three more than Woods won and twice as many as Player’s nine. Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour titles with 82, Nicklaus is third with 73.

Player won 24 times on the PGA Tour but got his professional start in his native South Africa. Player, though, has won about 160 professional events world-wide, more than any other golfer.

Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

Read the full article here