Golf legend's son gets Masters ban for shameful stunt

Marc Player, son of nine-time major champion Gary, claims his brother has been banned from the US Masters for using the occasion of last week’s honorary starter’s ceremony for “ambush marketing”.

Wayne Player, who was caddying for his father at the ceremony, was widely criticised for displaying a box of OnCore golf balls in the background of the shot as television cameras focused on Lee Elder.

Elder, 86, was the first black golfer to play in the Masters in 1975, and was invited to join regular starters Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus this year, a significant statement in the wake of heightened racial tensions in the United States over the past 12 months.

Social media users, including his brother Marc, condemned Wayne Player’s actions. Marc tweeted: “Embarrassing & illegal ambush marketing by Wayne Player during a traditional ceremony @TheMasters.”

After Hideki Matsuyama’s popular win, CBS golf writer Kyle Porter posted a picture of the champion’s caddie, Shota Hayafuji, bowing on the final green alongside one of Wayne Player holding the packet of golf balls, along with the caption: “Can’t think of a tournament in recent history that’s had a more contrasting beginning and end.”

Marc Player responded: “Agreed. Wayne has since correctly been banned from Augusta National and the Masters tournament. What a shame. What an embarrassment. What a bad decision to allow him on the first tee after years of similar shenanigans. My apologies to all.”

Asked if Wayne Player had been banned from the club and the tournament, Augusta National declined to comment.

It is not the first time Wayne Player, 58, has courted controversy. He was arrested for fraud in 2019 over an incident involving a house rental at the 2018 Masters. The cheque he wrote to the homeowners bounced and he failed to follow through with a payment.

He was charged with one count of deposit account fraud or bad cheques totalling greater than $499, but in a 2019 interview with the Golf Channel, he claimed the charge was dropped after the homeowners were paid in full.

It is unclear whether Gary Player knew about or condoned his son’s actions during the starter’s ceremony. The three-time Masters champion has been an ambassador and shareholder in OnCore since April 2019, according to the company’s website. Gary Player’s representatives did not respond when contacted. In response to the controversy, OnCore’s chief executive released a statement last week distancing the company from the matter.

“We did not ask or instruct Mr Player to have our ball sleeve visible during the ceremony and are sorry if his actions caused any offence or was a distraction from the wonderful recognition being paid to Mr Elder,” Keith Blakely wrote.