Gary Player: Picture This premiered last weekend to much acclaim as the documentary style film chronicles an in-depth look into the life and career of the Black Knight.
Presented by Rolex, Player examines his deep rooted past as a poor boy in rural South Africa to his rise becoming the third man in history to complete golf’s career Grand Slam and offers never before seen moments pulled deep from archives around the world. Player, his wife Vivienne, members of his family, fellow golf legend Jack Nicklaus, and many others dive into the moments that shaped the Black Knight’s place in history as a legendary golfer, philanthropist, and family man.
The documentary, produced by IMG, will broadcast to a world-wide audience and has already run on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
“Our goal was to go beyond Gary Player the golfer,” said Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and Executive Producer of the project. “His fans know the big moments: the Majors, the fitness, the philanthropy. But what is behind those moments? What was going through his mind when he met Nelson Mandela? That is what we captured, and that is the story we told. I hope we accomplished this goal.”
The story uses specific pictures to trigger emotions usually hidden within Gary Player’s psyche. Starting with his spectacular 80th birthday celebration in Sun City where more than 50 members of his ever-growing family were present, viewers are able to connect with the Black Knight like never before.
Player, in a dark blacked out room, recalls a memory from his childhood about his father’s work deep inside the South African gold mines.
“He took me down there once,” said Gary Player. “And I never wanted to go back. I was determined my life was going to be very different.”
Family is a central theme of Gary Player’s life and also of this documentary. Learn firsthand from the World’s Most Traveled Athlete™ how he and his wife of nearly 60 years, Vivienne, coped with heartbreak and triumph on Tour while raising six children. The Black Knight Archives estimates Player will reach 20 million air miles traveled by 2020.
Golf’s Global Ambassador has won more than 165 professional tournaments including 18 Majors, nine on the regular Tour and nine on the Senior Tour. Following the premier, many fans took to Twitter to praise the documentary about one of golf’s most cherished figures. Player actively uses the social media outlet, interacting with fans on a daily basis.
Today, his home is a thoroughbred racehorse stud farm in the small town of Colesberg in the Great Karoo of South Africa, but he travels seven months out of the year raising money for children through The Player Foundation. He also participates in several special events such as The Master’s Par 3 Contest, where this year he became the oldest player participating in the event to record a hole-in-one.
“Age is just a number,” said Player. “I plan to travel and work as long as my health allows. The way I have taken care of my body, I will be disappointed if I do not live to be 100.”
“When all is said and done and my time on this earth comes to an end, I want to be remembered not as a great athlete but someone who did everything in their power to make life better and contribute to my fellow man.”
ABOUT BLACK KNIGHT INTERNATIONAL
Established in 1983 by Marc Player, Black Knight International is a global holding company for The Player Group and the constantly expanding family of Gary Player® brands. With a powerful presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Black Knight is a multicultural and multilingual company offering branded services for the leisure and real estate industries. This rapidly growing firm is diverse and infused with the same tenaciousness and drive as Gary Player, world renowned golfer. The holding company divisions include: Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises, Black Knight Capital, Gary Player Academies, and The Player Foundation.
Contact:
Bo Wood, Gary Player Group
Tel: 864-477-2720
Email: b.wood@garyplayer.com
