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If anyone complains about being tired on arrival at next week's Emirates Australian Open, we might have to get Gary Player to give them a call.
The South African legend, who recently turned 82, told the Inside The Ropes podcast today of his extraordinary journey to the 1963 Australian Open at Royal Melbourne where he won the third of his record seven Stonehaven Cups.
Player had been at the World Cup in Paris where Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer had just won for the United States, but declined the long trip to Australia when play was delayed into a Monday finish.
A travel agent informed them they would only arrive at Royal Melbourne shortly before their round one tee time on Thursday.
"Jack and Arnie said they were not coming … but I flew (from Paris) to New York, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Fiji, Sydney and then got to Royal Melbourne three and a half hours (before my starting time)," Player said.
"This is the most amazing win of my life. I'd never seen the golf course, had a shower and a sandwich with a 16-hour time change and won the Open by seven shots.
That was an absolute miracle.
"I had a new set of Slazenger clubs and changed to that new ball … I don't know how I did it, it was a divine intervention, I can promise you.
"I still tell people (that) of all my 165 victories, that's the most amazing win of my life."
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