Gary Player - Dont Choke: A Champions Guide to Winning Under Pressure

T hroughout the vast majority of my career, I was considered to be a bit of a nutter because of my dedication to the mental aspect of the game and especially diet, health, and fitness. But in the end it was this dedication that allowed me to win eighteen Major championships and the career Grand Slam on the European, PGA, European Senior, and Champions tours.

The foundation I was given I owe to the people who provided me with the love, support, motivation, and knowledge to succeed when everyone in the golf world told me that I never could or would.

My father taught me two important things that have always stayed with mebe dedicated and always believe that you can be the best. He worked miles underground in the gold mines in horrid conditions, but every day he got up and went to work to support his family. When I was just starting to play golf, he was the one who pushed me to practice and to devote myself to winning.

My mother taught me to love unconditionallysomething everyone should learn.

My brother Ian, a great conservationist and one of my best friends, taught me that I can when I think I cant.

My sister Wilma gave me the gift that probably had the most profound effect on how I look at lifeNorman Vincent Peales book The Power of Positive Thinking . I can say without a doubt that it changed my life.

Vivienne, my beloved wife, helped me be a better man and raised our family almost single-handedly. I was traveling so much it was nearly impossible for me to be an everyday father, and Vivienne kept our family together and raised six wonderful children and twenty-one grandchildren. Can you imagine a wife traveling with six children tourist class, no jets, forty hours to America or Australia? What a woman.

My in-laws taught me what it means to give total support to those who become part of a family. Early in my career, when none of us knew for sure that I would make it as a professional golfer, their unwavering belief in my abilities and support to our family helped me get through those days when doubt started to creep into my mind.

I owe thanks to my son Marc and the team at Black Knight International, who worked so hard to get this book published.

I also want to pay special thanks to Dr. Bob Rotella, who was kind enough to write the foreword to this book. His insight into the mind and what it takes to succeed is inspirational.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Michael Vlismas for helping me to write this book. The hours we spent together reliving the stories contained in this book brought back such powerful and wonderful memories. Thank you. Memories are the cushions of life.

Gary Player

Also by Gary Player:

The Art of Player
Bunker Play
The Complete Golfers Handbook
50 Years at The Masters
Fit for Golf
Gary Player on Fitness and Success
Gary Players Golf Book for Young People
Gary Players Golf Class
Gary Players Golf Clinic
Gary Players Golf Secrets
The Gary Player Golfers Guide to South Africa
Gary Players Top Golf Courses of the World
Gary Player, World Golfer
Golf Begins at 50
Golf over 40
The Golfers Guide to the Meaning of Life
Grand Slam Golf
How to Build a Classic Golf Swing
In the Presence of Gary Player
The Open
Play Business Like a Pro with Gary Player
Play Golf with Gary Player
Positive Golf
The Second Book of Gary Player Golf Class
395 Golf Lessons
To Be the Best

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barrett, Ted. The Chronicle of Golf. London: Carlton Books, 1994.

Locke, Bobby. Bobby Locke on Golf. London: Country Life Limited, 1953.

Player, Gary. Grand Slam Golf . London: Cassell, 1966 and Success London: David Charle 1982.

Player, Gary. Gary Player on Fitness.

Player, Gary. The Complete Golfers Handbook . London: New Holland, 1999.

Player, Gary. Player magazine. August 15, 2004.

Smart, Ted. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Golf. London: Robert Green and HarperCollins, 1994.

Swanepoel, Anton. Play Your Business Like a Pro .Vanderbijlpark: Carpe Diem, 2005.

EPILOGUE

A cool wind blows over him as he sits down under a large oak tree on his farm, overlooking the great expanse of the Karoo beyond.

The air is filled with the powerful voice of Luciano Pavarotti and his rendition of Nessun Dorma (none shall sleep).

He closes his eyes.

I have not failed to get the most of out every day of my life, he says. You talk about a legacy to the game. Forget about being a great golfer. Id like to be remembered as a man who loved people, who loved life, and who tried to contribute to society.

And its still the little things that stand out in a career of mythical proportion. Little things like a cricket bat from school.

At school, in Grade 11, I was voted the Best All-Round Sportsman in the entire school. I played first team rugby and first team cricket, I was awarded half colors for athletics and swimming, and I did boxing and horseback riding. I won a cricket bat as my award. Its still one of the great achievements of my life.

Later that day, he walks the nine-hole golf course that he is building on his farm. Its his vision of the worlds first golf course that is eighty percent water free. For now, its the vision of one man and the seven farm laborers who have worked with him to build this golf course.

Its a new vision. He is seventy-four years old. But there is a new vision.

Ive always got a reason.
None shall sleep.
But when he does, it is to a silent prayer:
I asked for strength,
And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I prayed for wisdom,
And God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity,
And God gave me brains and strength to work.
I prayed for courage,
And God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love,
And God gave me opportunities.
I asked for humility,
And God gave me experiences not to be proud of.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, No.
He said that patience is a product of tribulation.
It is not granted. It is earned.
I asked God to spare me pain,

2009 Masters 18th hole. The last hole at the
Masters ever played. >>

And God said, No.

He said, Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares

And brings you closer to me.

I received nothing I wanted.

I received everything I needed.

My prayer has been answered.

MY MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

1959 BRITISH OPEN: MUIRFIELD, SCOTLAND

284 Gary Player (South Africa) 75-71-70-68

286 Fred Bullock (Great Britain) 68-70-74-74, Flory Van Donck (Belgium) 70-70-73-73