Golf icon Gary Player, a three-time Masters champion, has publicly shared his disappointment after Augusta National Golf Club denied his request to play a single round of golf on the famed course with his three grandsons. The 90-year-old South African legend, known for his storied career and enduring presence at the tournament, described the rejection as a sad reflection of changing times at the exclusive club.
Player, who has long positioned himself as an ambassador for Augusta National, revealed the details in a recent interview. “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,” he told Golf Monthly. He emphasized the personal significance of the outing, noting that his grandsons are eager to hear firsthand stories of his triumphs on the course where he claimed victories in 1961, 1974, and 1978. Player’s 1961 win marked him as the first international player to don the green jacket, a milestone that cemented his place in golf history.
The request was for a simple four-ball round, but Augusta National, renowned for its strict policies, turned it down. Player contrasted the decision with other major venues, stating, “All the golf courses that have hosted the Open, the US Open and the PGA would oblige, but they won’t do it at Augusta.” He attributed the denial to the club’s current management, adding, “It is just this current management there, but these are the times we live in and I accept it, but I accept it with sadness.”
Player’s relationship with Augusta spans decades. He holds the record for the most Masters appearances at 52 and made the cut at age 62 in 1998, the oldest player to do so at the time. Since 2011, he has served as an honorary starter alongside legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, a role he continued at the 2025 Masters. Despite these honors, Player is not a member of the club, where membership is by invitation only and rarely extended to professional golfers. Past champions like Palmer and Nicklaus were exceptions, but the club’s exclusivity remains a cornerstone of its identity.
However, the denial may stem from deeper tensions. Player has previously voiced criticisms of the Masters, once ranking it last among the majors and remarking that without star players, Augusta would be “just another golf course in Georgia.” Additionally, family controversies have strained relations. In 2021, Player’s son Wayne was banned for life from the Masters after promoting golf balls during a ceremonial tee shot honoring Lee Elder, the first Black player to compete in the tournament. Wayne also faced fraud charges in 2018 related to Masters accommodations. Fans and observers suggest these “repeated boundary issues” with Player’s family influenced the club’s decision, rather than solely his legacy.
Public reaction on social media has been mixed but largely unsympathetic toward Player. Some users decried the move as “petty” and an “embarrassment” for Augusta, with one post stating, “Any membership foursome would give their tee time to Gary Player and his grandsons without hesitation. Poor decision by Augusta National.” Others labeled Player’s complaints as “childish entitlement,” pointing to his past criticisms and family incidents. Comments like “He and his family have broken the rules at Augusta multiple times” and “You haven’t spoken very positive on Augusta, don’t blame them” reflect a sentiment that the club is simply upholding its traditions.
Player, ever the resilient figure, has accepted the outcome, but his sadness underscores a poignant chapter in his enduring legacy. Augusta National has not publicly commented on the matter.
