Gary Player's career in ten tweets. The thread.

Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1934. His father worked in the gold mines and took out a loan to buy his son his first set of clubs. At 14, Player played his first round and parred the first three holes. Aged 16, he announced that he'd become world number one.

Played turned pro at 17 and married his childhood sweetheart, Vivienne, who was the sister of a professional golfer. His first win came in 1955 at the East Rand Open. By 1960, he had won 15 times on the Sunshine Tour and travelled to the US to play predominantly on the PGA TOUR.

In his first ever major start at @TheOpen Championship in 1956 at Hoylake, a 20-year old Player finished fourth. That same year he won the South African Open for the first time and five other pro titles.

His first major came at the 1959 Open. Player was 8 shots back going into the last day but shot 70-68 to win. Upset after making double on the final hole, he learnt of his win via a call to his hotel. He returned to Muirfield to lift the Claret Jug.

In 1961, Gary Player became the first ever international champion at the Masters. He held off Arnold Palmer on a Monday finish to win by a single shot. Sealing victory with a signature sand save on the 72nd hole.

Aged just 29, @GaryPlayer completed the career Grand Slam at the 1965 @USOpenGolf, beating Kel Nagle in a 18-hole Monday playoff. He became just the third player in history to complete the feat, joining Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.