Abu Dhabi: At the age of 79, when many of his calibre would prefer to be in the comfort of their home, relaxing in an armchair and pondering over the laurels of yesteryear — renowned South African golfer Gary Player is on a mission. He wants to help as many needy as possible through his charity event, the Gary Player Invitational.
Player, who is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of golf, was in the UAE capital on Monday to announce that his company Black Knight International will be hosting a Gary Player Invitational event in association with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on February 8, 2016.
The launch was attended by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
The event will see top professional men and women golfers play alongside celebrities and businessmen. Player, who won nine major championships between 1961 and 1972, revealed how his invitational idea came about.
“I was very poor. My mother died when I was eight and my father used to work in a gold mine 8,000 feet underground. My brother went to war at 17 and my sister was at boarding school. Thankfully I got education, but life was a struggle. That’s why I became a little champion as I loved challenges.
“I was playing in America when I won my first Masters and 20,000 people were cheering for Arnold Palmer. There were only two people rooting for me and it was my wife and my dog. I knew what it was to suffer so I said ‘I love that’ and I beat him that day.”
Player, who also operates the Player Foundation, which aims to help edcuate the underprivileged around the world, said his only regret is that he can’t do more because of his age.
“I still feel like a 50-year-old as I have kept myself fit and want to keep working for the people as long as possible. I would like to tell the youth to avoid over-eating and focus on health so that they can also serve for a long time and help others,” said Player, who has held similar fundraising tournaments in the UK, South Africa, the US and China.
“Can you imagine about homeless people in London? I met so many people and it was sad to see them sitting on the streets at night. In South Africa we changed the life of so many black children.
“Me and President Nelson Mandela raised a lot of money for young kids in South Africa. Even India has shown interest as they have seen what’s happening and the kind of money we are raising for charity. So many countries have shown an interest.”
Shaikh Nahyan hailed Player’s efforts, saying: “With so much unrest happening around the world these sort of initiatives act as a bridge to bring people together. It not only inspires us, but also future generations.”
