Happy Birthday, Gary!

Gary Player turns 75 today. Earlier this year, I predicted:

Gary Player, the Jack LaLanne Perry Como of professional golf, will celebrate his 75th birthday on November 1 with a 40th anniversary release of his album, "Gary Player Sings."

As far as I know, this is not going to happen. In the absence of a Gary Player serenade, however, here's a link to an interview at golf.com, which includes this enlightening snippet about Martin Kaymer:

"I like his manner, and the way he shaves every day."

Yes, Gary Player is unique, a man with his own way of thinking and of doing things. After I made the above prediction, I posted this reflection on "The Legend that is Gary Player." An excerpt:

I find Player absolutely fascinating. He has an inspiring backstory, having grown up dirt poor in South Africa, where his father was a miner. His mother died when he was 8. He's gotten where he is today by working harder than anybody in the history of the game (even Hogan, by my estimation), both on and off the course. The winner of nine (yes, nine!) major championships, he was an amazing player, even as he labored in the shadow of Palmer and Nicklaus. Because of the "golden era" in which he played, I think he sometimes doesn't get enough credit today for what he accomplished on the course. Who knows how many majors he would have won had he peaked in, say, the 1980s?

That's two more majors than Arnie! Yet, who comes more readily to mind as one of the greatest players of all time? Probably Palmer over Player – a common perception that's really not supported by their respective records.
     So happy birthday, Gary! May your stature one day grow as large in the minds of fans as it already is in your own!