I was eight-years-old the first time I watched Gary Player play golf. It was at Pretoria Golf Club, more commonly referred to as Pretoria West. Gary was playing an exhibition match against Tommy Bolt. Bolt had won the US Open in 1958 and Gary the Open Championship in 1959, so this was a big deal for South Africa to have two of the best golfers in the world up against each other.

Forty-five years later I interviewed Tommy and asked what he remembered about his tour of South Africa. He said: 'I loved Africa but I can tell you if Gary couldn't chip and putt he would have been in the hot dog stand selling hot dogs!'

Well, Gary has proved to us all that he could do more than chip and putt. What a career, what a life he's had. It shows – his hard work, determination, dedication and desire have definitely paid off.

When he left school early, his teacher said: 'Boy, you're going to struggle.' Well, struggle he did. In his first couple of years Gary wasn't very good but he out-worked everyone.

In 1955 Bobby Locke won his ninth SA Open at Zwartkop Country Club in Pretoria. At that point, Bobby had only ever played in nine and won them all. Gary missed the cut and was on the practice tee. Others who missed the cut were probably in the bar or at home, licking their wounds. Gary was learning and when asked, he said: 'I'm going to win the SA Open next year.'

The next year's SA Open was played at Durban Country Club and who do you think won? Gary Player.

In the next couple of years, Gary went to Australia and won three tournaments in 1956 and 1957. In 1958 he won his first of seven Australian Opens and went on to record over 160 wins with nine Majors and another nine on the Senior Tour.

Since the Second World War, only two players have better records than Player – Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

To do Player's record justice you also have to look at how he won all these golf tournaments.

He always lived in South Africa so in the fifties and sixties it was pretty much a two-day flight to America. Gary spent a large percentage of his life in aeroplanes in those days because he was a true world golfer. He won tournaments in Japan, Australia, Brazil, Chile, America, England, Scotland, France, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Canada, Ireland, Germany and, of course, South Africa. He won 28 National Open Championships, a record unmatched.

The second issue: Gary had to put up with the fact he lived and loved his country, South Africa, and unfortunately he was our country's most recognised person, so he took the brunt of the anti-apartheid protests. Gary had people shouting while he was trying to hit shots, they threw ice in his face in America and many, many times he had his life threatened. He often played with security guards, and even FBI agents, on either side of him. He still managed to win.

Finally, Gary Player played at same time as Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Seve Ballesteros, Billy Casper and Johnny Miller. All these players would be in the Top 20 Golfers of All Time list.

Gary loved controversy. He liked to make himself the underdog. The small guy beating all the big guys. Gary was a winner, a champion and he was often accused of using gamesmanship to achieve his goals.

He never ever did it with me and I can only say that some of my best golfing memories are playing the last round of the PGA Championship at Wanderers twice and the Swiss Open with Gary and managing to beat him. You know you had beaten one of the best ever and you always knew he'd given his best.

TYRONE WINFIELD / SUNSHINE TOUR / GARY PLAYER