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Gary Player was only eight when his father took him to see his mother for the last time. It was Christmas Day in 1943, and it was a day that changed Player forever.
Shortly after that, Player’s mother Muriel died from cancer.
“My mum, who had come to mean everything to me, simply slipped away and was gone forever,” said Player.
So, when Annika Sörenstam arrives to support the Black Knight during his annual charity tournament, the Gary Player Invitational at Sun City next weekend, it will be the meeting of two people who share something far greater than their status as two golfing icons.
Both know the power of giving back and the role women play in communities.
“Women are the backbone of our society. I was blessed to meet my wife Vivienne, who has been an absolute rock through my life.
"I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices she made so that I could pursue my dreams. Strong women make strong communities,” said Player.
It’s a strength Sörenstam has epitomised throughout her career as a pioneer in women’s golf and an inspirational athlete and her current role as a businesswoman, mother and founder of the Annika Foundation, which helps to empower young girls around the world to pursue their dreams.
“Our work is as much about the personal development of young women as it is about creating great women golfers for the future. When we started the foundation in 2007, it was with the goal of encouraging a holistic development of young women to lead healthy and active lifestyles,” she said.
“I’m proud to support The Player Foundation and its drive to help women in South Africa. As a mother, I know that women who are empowered pour all of this back into their children, which shapes the communities of the future.”
The tournament tees off with the official pro-am on Friday, followed by the 36-hole event on Saturday and Sunday, featuring a field of professional golfers partnering with celebrities, sports stars and business leaders to raise money for disadvantaged communities.
