Gary Player once again joined six-time champion Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson as the Masters honorary starters on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club. The 90-year-old South African teed off first, and then he kicked his foot high in the air to celebrate another year kicking off the first major of the year.
As has become tradition, the honorary starters spoke with the media after kicking off the tournament.
For Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up, whose Gary Player impersonation is the stuff of legend, it was a chance to ask a question that was just irresistible for the Black Knight. He asked Player, "Gary, in 1997 when Tiger Woods won the Masters, he revealed that he famously ate at Arby's every single night. I was wondering when the last time you had any fast food was."
And here, in full, is Gary Player's answer:
"Well, you don't reach 90 as I do if you eat a bunch of crap. I can tell you that. But that's your choice. Everybody has a choice. I want to live to 100 because I love people. I love golf. I just love life.
"I've got a young girlfriend -- I've changed my life. How about that, at 90, finding a girlfriend? Tom (Watson) is not as old as me, but he's also found a new one. I'll tell you what, guys, you all -- you or your wife is going to die. One of the spouses are going to die, and it's not the end of life.
"So many people that does happen and they get so disheartened that they don't think they should continue life. The greatest gift bestowed upon a man or woman is life. So my ambition is to reach 100.
"So I went to India and I met a gerontologist, and he gave me 11 things to work on, which I adhere to. So I might drop dead tomorrow, but I'm giving it a hell of a try."
Well, there you have it! No notes.
