Dressed head-to-foot in his traditional black, Gary Player looked up at an elegant lady spectator, also in black, and said, "Oh you're my American wife (which she was). I have a wife in South Africa, too––but, I take better care of you, don't I?"
Regaling the crowd at Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Ka'anapali on Maui this February, Player said, "I've been coming to Hawaii for 50 years. These islands exemplify the word love––I always get the feeling of great peace and love here. This time we're staying an extra day, it's a such a delight."
Paired with Jack Nicklaus in the tournament, Tom Watson said, "I like playing skins with Jack, because on the first tee when your opponent asks you, 'Who is your partner?' and you say Jack Nicklaus, they look at you like 'We're cooked. . .' Jack has the ability to hit a meaningful when it counts––I trust him." (the two had 8 skins after Day 1). Watson said, "I first played with Jack in 1966 in Topeka when I was 16 years old. One of the best days of my life as a kid."
In fine form at age 68, with his son Steve as caddie, Nicklaus dazzled the spectators. After Watson called out, "Bring out the magic, partner!", he sunk a 15-footer for a $150,000 hole to put the two in the lead. 
Nicklaus went on to pitch in from 50 feet away in the sand on the 6th and putt in on the 7th for $90,000. They led until the last hole on Sunday, when they tied with Zoeller and Jacobson, then finally lost in a tie-breaker.
Striding down the fairway beneath the fluttering palm trees, ready for his 51st appearance in the Masters this year, Player summed up his 72 years: "I have achieved everything that I wanted to do. Now, I want to be a role model(for physical fitness). Obesity is killing more people than wars."
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