South African golf legend and King Edward VII School Old Boy Gary Player is to be honoured for his contribution to golf by being named the 10th recipient of the PGA Tour’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Hall of Fame member has won nine Major championship titles, including a career Grand Slam, and has 165 tournament wins to his name around the world, 24 of which were on the PGA Tour and 19 on the Champions Tour.

He is widly recognised as the best international (not American or European) golfer to have played the game.

Player was the special playing Editor at Compleat Golfer for many years, and will receive his award on 9 May at the Players Championship.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 1996 and is awarded to people who have made an exceptional contribution to the PGA Tour for a long time, both on and off the course.

The Black Knight joins an illustrious list of people who have been honoured with the award including Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Jack Burke Jr., Pete Dye, Deane Beman, Jack Nicklaus, and President George H.W. Bush.

“This is a great honor,” Player said. “Golf has allowed me to live a truly blessed life, and I have tried my best to give something back to the sport. Being recognized with true gentlemen of the sport like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus is humbling, and I will continue to help promote and support this wonderful game until the day I die.

“When I first arrived in America, I was not sure how I would be received as a foreign-born player, but the PGA Tour and the American fans were absolutely fantastic and made me feel like one of their own. It is difficult to put into words what that meant to me and my family, and I will always be thankful for the love and support I have received from this great country.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem believes that Player is an easy choice to receive the award.

“As one of the most accomplished – not to mention most-traveled – players in all of sports, Gary Player’s love of golf and his desire to use his talents to help everyone he comes in contact with make him most deserving of the PGA Tour’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” he said.

“You would be hard pressed to find an aspect of the game or corner of the world that hasn’t been influenced by Gary and his positive attitude over the past 50-plus years. He epitomizes the phrase ‘lifetime achievement,’ and it will be an honour to recognize him for all of his accomplishments.”

Courtesy of Complete Golfer website.

Congratulations Mr Player, the King Edward VII School Community applauds your achievement and new award. A true legend!