Win at Aronimink put Gary Player on the map

GARY PLAYER hardly came to the 1962 PGA Championship at Aronimink as an unknown. The 26-year-old South African had won the British Open 3 years earlier, and the Masters 15 months before. Yet, nearly 5 decades later, he regards his victory here as the one that truly elevated his stature.

"I think it established me as one of the top players of my era," Player explained recently, via e-mail. "Being a 'foreign' golfer, I was not as well known as the other top golfers in the States. And this win, coupled with my win at Augusta, helped me build a fan base.

"It also helped when I played outside of the USA because winning three majors against the best competition in the world enabled me to play in a wide variety of tournaments around the globe."

Player competed in his first PGA the year before at Chicago's Olympia Fields, where he finished 29th. The week before Aronimink (July 19-22), Player missed the cut in the British Open at Royal Troon by a stroke.

"I was in a foul mood after [that]," he admitted. "I got [to Aronimink] early, determined to love the course and practice harder than anyone else. I found that the layout of the course set up perfect for me. I had never set foot on [it] before.

"I needed to get my confidence back. I visualized holding up the Wanamaker Trophy and, in the end, that visualization came true."

He would win by one, over Bob Goalby. Player opened with a 2-over-par 72, on a layout that measured 7,045 yards, which made it the second-longest major to that point. He followed with rounds of 67 and 69, which left him in front by three.

But Goalby would close with a 67. When Player reached the final hole, his lead was down to a shot. He hit his drive right into the trees. From there, he used a 4-wood to work his ball around the corner onto the green.

"I will never forget that shot," Player remembered. "I hit the biggest slice. I aimed it 100 yards left of the green. Now, I [still] had to putt from at least 70 feet up the ridge. The flag was at the top, and I managed to get it close. About 2 feet."

After Goalby missed a 25-foot birdie attempt, Player's short par conversion gave him a 70, for 278.

He would win six more majors, including a U.S. Open in 1965 to complete the career Grand Slam and another PGA in 1972 (at Oakland Hills near Detroit). But Aronimink, which presented him with an honorary membership at the 2003 Senior PGA, will forever stand out.

"That week was a very interesting challenge for me," he said. "It was the first tournament in my career where I had to rely on my mental game more than my physical game.

"[After Troon] I knew that I had two simple choices - to be positive or negative. I chose positive. Winning the PGA was a very special moment, but what made it so memorable was the way I prepared mentally.

"It's very hard for me to rank wins, or accomplishments, but that bit of soul-searching before the tournament and the dedication I put into winning helped me to understand what it took mentally to win majors and how to be completely ready to win throughout my career."

It has been quite a journey. Player has just written a memoir entitled "Don't Choke - A Champions Guide to Winning Under Pressure." Which, once you've spent time with him, seems only appropriate.

"Once you master your mind, your body will follow," he said. "Golf has enabled me to lead an incredible life. I am proud of the fact that I played all over the world. I thought it was important to experience [that], and not limit myself."

Through the years, this area became a very large part of those extensive travels. He played in U.S. Opens at Merion in 1971 (where he tied for sixth) and '81. He teed it up in many IVB Classics at Whitemarsh Valley. He has designed courses, like The ACE Club in Lafayette Hill and TPC Jasna Polana, in Princeton, N.J., which hosted a Senior Tour event. Did we mention that a daughter and seven of his grandchildren call suburban Philly home?

"I love history, so getting a chance to visit one of the first colonies and see a part of history of the United States was a thrill," Player said. "The fans were always very welcoming. I love going back to places that hold special meaning for me. And Philadelphia is actually a very important place to me for many reasons. Wonderful, wonderful memories . . .

"It was fantastic to play the course again and relive some of those memories from '62."

So how does he think the guys will handle Aronimink this week?

"I loved it as much in 2003 as I did in '62," Player said. "I was very impressed with the changes that the club had made to improve the course and the facilities. I expect it will be challenging. The course will play short [7,237 yards], but if the rough is high, and I hope it will be, the need to keep your tee shot in the fairway will put a premium on accuracy, which tends to even things out for the entire field.

"It is a shotmaker's course. The young players who have never been [there] are simply in for a treat."

Tiger Woods is obviously the one everyone wants to see, particularly since he never has played in Philly. As one of the sport's most respected ambassadors, Player was asked to assess the present and future of the man with 14 majors. And his major issues.

"He went through a very difficult time in his life, and made some serious mistakes," Player said. "But he is trying to get his life back in order. The key is to learn from those mistakes and become a better person and hopefully that is what he's doing.

"He is one of the great talents and I expect that he will return to the form we have become so accustomed to seeing. His physical talents are incredible, but it is his ability to shut out the world and play golf that sets him apart."

Spoken like someone who knew a little something about focus himself. And Exhibit A was Aronimink, 48 years ago this month. *