Gary Player and the PGA Tour have been at odds for years over the Black Knight's record on PGA Tour Champions, but the nine-time regular major winner now has official recognition for what he has long claimed as nine senior major wins.
Player tweeted Nov. 20 he has received recognition from PGA Tour Champions for his three Senior British Open Championship wins from back before the event was recognized as the fifth of five majors by the 50-plus circuit in the United States.
I am thrilled to finally have my record acknowledged by USA @PGATOUR & @ChampionsTour. I consider myself a global player who always has & will support golf worldwide. To now have all of my Major Championships recognized by all official tours & bodies of golf means so much. GP pic.twitter.com/STswZHCNwn
— Gary Player (@garyplayer) November 20, 2018
Player won the Senior British Open in 1988 and 1990 at Turnberry, then won in 1997 at Royal Portrush. However, since the Senior British Open didn't become a PGA Tour Champions major until 2003 -- when Tom Watson won in the first year of it being an official major -- Player had been only recognized with six senior majors:
- 1986 PGA Seniors Championship
- 1987 U.S. Senior Open
- 1987 Mazda Senior Players Championship
- 1988 PGA Seniors' Championship
- 1988 U.S. Senior Open
- 1990 PGA Seniors' Championship
This disparity came into focus in 2017 when Bernhard Langer won the Senior British Open Championship for his third major of the season and 10th of his PGA Tour Champions career. Player had protested he wasn't recognized as the previous senior major leader. Now, he will be formally recognized as having the second-most senior major wins.
