Gary Player, 87, drops morbid remark at Masters Par 3 Contest: 'All my friends are dead'
Players is a three-time Masters winner
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gary Player may have ranked the Masters last of the four majors, but the three-time winner at Augusta National was certainly enjoying himself during Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest.
Player, 87, broke out into a brisk jog between holes, which included him quickly descending a set of stairs.
Gary Player plays a shot from the ninth tee during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
After reaching the next group of fans, the South African golfer exclaimed, "That wasn’t bad for a guy who’s getting near 90, is it?"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}GARY PLAYER, THREE-TIME MASTERS CHAMPION, FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO GET TEE TIME AT AUGUSTA
As he descended the hilly terrain, Player said with a laugh, "All my friends are dead!"
The remark prompted laughs from attendees and broadcasters, but Player wasn’t done yet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The nine-time major winner approached a young patron standing behind the white rope and hoisted him up with ease for a photo op.
Gary Player reacts to a putt during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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Player seemed to enjoy himself at the Par 3 Contest won by PGA Tour winner Tom Hoge, but it follows several critical remarks he made about the tournament recently.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"After all I’ve contributed to the tournament and been an ambassador for them, I can’t go and have a practice round there with my three grandchildren without having to beg a member to play with us, and there’s always some excuse. It’s terribly, terribly sad," Player told The Times.
Gary Player plays a shot from the fifth tee during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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"I’ve played my role. I’ve won it three times. I was in the top ten 15 times. I made the most number of cuts in a row ever, yet here we are struggling to get a round."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Player remarked earlier that, of the four majors, the Masters was last on his list, but he added that all four were "marvelous tournaments."