Gary Player once named his most favorite golfer to watch play the game
Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers to have ever graced the game. Player won an incredible 159 tournaments worldwide throughout his career, including nine major championships.
Photo by Benjamin Gilbert/Augusta National/Getty Images Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers to have ever graced the game. Player won an incredible 159 tournaments worldwide throughout his career, including nine major championships. The 90-year-old has become one of the most outspoken figures in the game since he stopped playing competitively.
Gary Player is often found criticising some of the biggest PGA Tour stars of the modern era. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images However, he does reserve special praise for a very select few. And one of the modern greats received Player’s backing more than a decade ago now.
Gary Player once named Rory McIlroy as his favorite golfer to watch Rory McIlroy is an exceptional talent, and he has arguably been the best and most consistent golfer over the past 15 years. The 36-year-old has 30 PGA Tour wins and 21 DP World Tour victories to his name, including six major championships. Player named the Northern Irishman when asked by AQ back in 2015 which golfer he enjoys watching play the most.
“ Rory McIlroy, he is playing wonderfully. “ Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Payne’s Valley Cup Of course, since those comments, McIlroy has won two more majors, with both of those victories coming at Augusta National. The 36-year-old Northern Irishman also became only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam in 2025, joining Player, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods in the ultra-exclusive club.