Gary Player is one of the great icons in the history of golf. Just a few days ago, he himself claimed the title of golfer who has hit the most balls in the world, after assuring that the number reaches 15 million throughout his life.
As he indicated, a computer program calculated this figure taking into account various parameters, including that he has been playing for 73 of the 87 years of his life.
Gary Player, history
But the fact is that the winner of nine ‘majors’ has been forced to deal with more delicate matters in recent times, something that has been known recently.
According to the Palm Beach Post newspaper, the ‘Black Knight’ filed a lawsuit last May in Palm Beach County against his son, Marc Player, and a separate lawsuit, in November, against his grandson, Damian Player. . Player alleges that both sold and attempted to sell some trophies and equipment from his professional days, in breach of an agreement that required the items to be returned to their original owner.
The fact is that the South African champion had ceded various brand rights over the years to his son Marc, with whom he managed part of his heritage and legacy, so he was able to auction off some very coveted for any collector.
However, although the business relationship with his son had ended in 2019 and with a settlement agreement, much of Player’s memorabilia was sold against his wishes at auction in 2021. The list included, among other things, his 1974 Masters winner’s trophy, which sold for $523,483, a South African Open trophy ($48,841), his irons used at the 1965 US Open ($17,947) or golf shoes used at the Masters (1,171 $).
Although according to Damian Player’s lawyer we are at the beginning of a judicial process, a judge will decree an order in the coming days that will stop the possible sale of more objects from the ‘Black Knight’
According to his son, the 2021 agreement is invalid because the property rights belong to a trust, but Gary Player hopes the court order “solves the problems of recent times.” Already in 2020, the 87-year-old ex-golfer won a lawsuit against Marc, who had to pay five million to his father for non-payment in relation to the exploitation of image rights.
Then there is also the lawsuit against Damian Player, his grandson, who allegedly tried to sell a series of his grandfather’s memorabilia that he had stored in South Carolina. What he did sell or at least help sell were several Rolex watches belonging to the ex-golfer, for a significant sum of money.
