Golf legend Gary Player just made a claim that has the sports world doing a double-take. The 90-year-old told Fried Egg Golf he has beaten his age over 3,400 times. This milestone highlights Player’s lifelong commitment to fitness.

Player was interviewed inside the Aronimink clubhouse. The two-time Wanamaker Trophy holder was present at the Aronimink for the PGA Championship and helped in the presentation of the trophy to the winner, Aaron Rai.

“You know, I've beaten my age now 3,400 times in a row.” Player told Kevin Van Valkenburg, Director of Content at Fried Egg Golf.

This was Player’s response to Valkenburg when he was asked as to how he felt after hitting a “great shot still at this age.” Player throughout his career won 159 tournaments around the world, including nine major championships.

The South African never let his age stop him as he went on to join the Senior Tour and won 22 times, including nine majors. The number “3400” might not be accurate but the 90-year old's intended connotation can be perceived by every golf fan who watched him dominate different eras.

“I'd say I shoot an average of around 74. That's 2 over par. So I probably average 15 strokes under my age every time I play. It's a thrill, and I'm still searching for little things, a new shaft, a new exercise I must do to increase my distance," he further added. "It never stops, and it's an incentive to keep you alive. You've got to be incentivized in life, I think. So I want to reach 100; I'd like to do that. I love it. I love my life and I love my work.”

Nicknamed “Mr. Fitness”, Player’s longevity is a result of his sheer commitment to fitness.  Player won majors in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and is the only player to win the British Open in three decades.

On one hand, Player went toe-to-toe against the greats Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus during the 1960s-70s. On the other hand, he also became the oldest player to make the cut at the British Open and the Masters.

Player made these records at the 1995 British Open when he was 59 and at the 1998 Masters when he had turned 62. However, both the records were eventually broken.

Player also weighed his opinion on the future of LIV Golfers. Let’s find out what he had to say.

Player On The Future Of LIV Golfers

Player was aware of the extensive financial backing that the PIF had extended to LIV. However, he believed that no new investor would be able to provide support in the range that the PIF did.

“Whatever reason they're accepted back, there is going to have to be some sacrifice, some penalty, something. They cannot just say “I'm coming back.” Whatever it is, I don't know. I'm not running the Tour, but it's a big problem. And the thing that's so sad about it all is the separation of the tours.” said Player.

As of now, it is yet to be confirmed as to what the “penalty” might be for the LIV Golfers would intend to return to the PGA tour. However, Brooks Koepka, who returned to the tour through the Returning Members Program, accepted to donate $5 million to tour-approved charities and forfeited his shares in the Tour's Player Equity Program for a span of five years.

The future of LIV is yet to unfold but LIV golfers look likely to return to the PGA Tour.

What are your thoughts on Player’s statement? Share them in the comments.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi