Player's son Wayne joins Dad at GPI
For the first time in the history of the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola, host Gary Player will be joined by his son Wayne as part of the glittering array of sports stars, celebrities, professional golfers and business leaders set to take part in South Africa’s leading charity golf tournament.
Wayne Player joins a list of professional golfers including multiple European Tour winners Richard Sterne and Jean van de Velde who will tee it up at The Lost City Golf Course from 12-15 November.
And they will be joined by a host of celebrities including world-renowned musicians Ronan Keating and Brian McFadden, radio and television personality Johnathan Joseph, former Proteas cricketer Mark Boucher and former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena.
Wayne Player’s inclusion in this year’s tournament will make for an even more memorable event for his father, Gary, who will be honoured with an 80th birthday party celebration during the tournament. And it will bring back the memories of a time when they shared the fairways as fellow competitors in 1982.
When Wayne qualified for the US Open that year, they became the first father-son duo to play in a US Open and Open Championship at the same point in their careers.
“I have always loved to watch my dad play golf and interact with other players, friends, fans, and business associates. His ability to strike a perfect one iron may have made him famous, but it is his ability to engage others in meaningful conversation and inspire them with his stories that endears him to millions,” said Wayne.
Sterne has been a longtime supporter of the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola, while Van De Velde will be making his debut in the tournament.
The celebrities will all present a strong challenge for this year’s title.
Mokoena returns to defend a title he won with Player in 2014 and is looking forward to making another contribution to a series that has already raised over $60 million for charities worldwide.
“Gary is an incredible person and it was an honour for me to be a part of the 2014 tournament. I came from humble beginnings so I know exactly how powerful these kinds of events are for the underprivileged.”
Boucher was on the winning team in 2003, while the trio of McFadden, Keating and Joseph have all finished second in this tournament before.
FIELD FOR THE GARY PLAYER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA
Professionals
Gary Player
Wayne Player
Richard Sterne
Jean Van De Velde
Celebrities
Brian McFadden
Ronan Keating
Aaron Mokoena
Mark Boucher
Johnathan Joseph
Jacasport