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Gary Player: ‘It’s an Absolute Joke’ How Much Easier Golf is Today
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2 MIN READ

May 7, 2026

Gary Player: ‘It’s an Absolute Joke’ How Much Easier Golf is Today

"I mean it’s—it’s a joke how much easier golf is now. It is absolutely a joke.”

By

&

Riley Hamel

Gary Player won his first PGA TOUR event in 1958. By the time he hung it up, he had 24 TOUR wins and nine major championships on his resume. Safe to say he’s been playing this game for a long time.

On Thursday, the man famous for donning all black joined Skratch’s Vanity Index podcast and discussed golf’s differences between when he was out there playing and what the guys are facing today. Long story short: it’s much, much easier now.

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“I was getting ready to get my driver ready for Augusta,” he told hosts Chad Mumm and Wells Adams. “PXG fly a guy in with all shafts and heads, and they got a screwdriver there they can make it fade, hook, high, low. Anything you like—hit it straight. I mean it’s—it’s a joke how much easier golf is now. It is absolutely a joke.”

He also brought up an interesting point that it’s impossible to compare players from different eras due to the incredible evolution of equipment.

During the chat with Mumm and Adams, Player also discussed his journey to the Career Grand Slam and a whole lot more.

Vanity Index Podcast airs every Wednesday on Golf Channel at 10AM EST. Listen to this Episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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