90-Year-Old Gary Player Says Golf Is Much Easier Now Than His Era

In his illustrious career, Gary Player claimed 24 PGA Tour wins and 9 major championship triumphs.

90-Year-Old Gary Player Says Golf Is Much Easier Now Than His Era

Gary Player (Image via GolfMagic)

Gary Player has once again dropped a major claim. The 90-year-old golf legend recently claimed that the game has gotten much easier now than it was during his era.

Player turned professional in 1953 and claimed his PGA Tour victory in 1958. The South African international went on to finish his career with 24 PGA Tour wins and 9 major championships. He is also one of the 6 golfers who have completed the career grand slam.

Obviously, with time, things have changed. There has been a huge revolution in clubs, equipment, and even some playing courses.

On Thursday, the veteran appeared on Skratch’s Vanity Index podcast. During this, he compared the differences between when he was out there competing and what the players are facing today.

I was getting ready to get my driver ready for Augusta. PXG fly a guy in with all shafts and heads, and they got a screwdriver there they can make it fade, hook, high, low. Anything you like, hit it straight. I mean it’s a joke how much easier golf is now. It is absolutely a joke.

Gary Player said

In his career, Player had some tough battles against the likes of greats Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Some of his other big rivals were Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

At the moment, Player serves as one of the three honorary starters at the Masters Tournament along with Nicklaus and Watson. This year, he was present at the Augusta National and teed off first while showcasing his incredible fitness at the age of 90.

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Gary Player claims LIV golfers should be made to qualify from Korn Ferry Tour if they want to return to the PGA Tour

Since the 2026 Masters Tournament, LIV Golf has remained in the center stage, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) cutting off their financial support after this season. Amid this, Gary Player dropped a brutal message to LIV golfers and claimed that they should be made to qualify from the Korn Ferry Tour if they want to come back to the PGA Tour.

Gary Player
Gary Player (Image via Bunkered)

While LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has expressed confidence in the league’s future, reports claim that some stars have begun reaching out to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour about a potential return.

Earlier this year, the PGA Tour saw the return of Brooks Koepka. In December last year, the former World No.1 left LIV Golf after spending 4 seasons with them.

The American golfer was later reinstated to the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program. As per this window, a golfer who had won The Players Championship or one of the 4 majors from 2022 and had been away for 2 years could return. Koepka thus came back through this 2023 PGA Championship victory.

During the Masters Tournament, Tom Watson was not pleased to see him come back without any major consequences. Apart from a $5 million donation and missing out on the Players’ Equity Program till 2030, he was welcomed back without any other fines.

Watson, the 8-time major champion, had sounded off on this. He claimed that Koepka should have been made to play on the Korn Ferry Tour and earn his way through qualification.

Player has come into support of Watson. While speaking with Skratch’s Vanity Index podcast, he claimed that the PGA Tour allowing Koepka to return was not fair to those who stayed loyal to them.

Tom Watson had a point at Augusta this year. He says if they want to come back, they have made all this money. They can’t just walk back onto the Tour now. It’s not fair to the players that are playing now, and they should go to one of the minor Tours and have to pre-qualify to get on the Tour.

Gary Player said

A few days after Koepka’s return, Patrick Reed also left LIV Golf. However, unlike him, he has to wait to actually come back to the tour. The former Masters Champion will return in 2027, but will be eligible to play in the later events this year.

The big question now is, will LIV Golf actually fold? If it does, then several players would be left without a tour. As per Golf Digest, the conditions for golfers to return to the Tour will be much stricter than the ones that allowed Koepka and Reed to come back.

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