Gary Player sues his son and grandson for selling his memorabilia

Gary Player is one of the great icons of golf history. He himself claimed just a few days ago the title of the golfer who has hit the most balls in the world, after ensuring that the number reaches 15 million throughout his life. According to him, a computer program calculated this figure taking into various parameters, including the fact that he has been playing for 73 of his 87 years of life.

But the fact is that the winner of nine majors has been forced to deal with more delicate matters in recent times, something that has recently come to light.

According to the Palm Beach Post, he filed a lawsuit last May in Palm Beach County against his son, Marc Player, and a separate one in November against his grandson, Damian Player.

Player alleges that both sold and attempted to sell some trophies and equipment from his time as a professional, in breach of an agreement that required the items to be returned to their original owner. The fact is that the South African champion had assigned several trademark rights over the years to his son Marc, with whom he managed part of his estate and legacy, so he was able to auction some highly coveted pieces to any collector.

However, although the business relationship with his son had ended in 2019 and with a settlement agreement, much of Player's memorabilia was sold against his wishes at auction in 2021. The list included, among other things, his 1974 Masters winner's trophy, which sold for 523,483 dollars, a trophy from the South African Open (48,841 dollars), his irons used in the 1965 US Open (17,947 dollars) or some golf shoes used in the Masters (1,171 dollars).

Although, according to Damian Player's lawyer, we are just at the beginning of a judicial process, a judge will decree in the next few days an order that will stop the possible sale of more items.

According to his son, the 2021 agreement is not valid because the property rights belong to a trust, but Gary Player hopes that the court order will "solve the problems of recent times". Already in 2020 the 87-year-old former golfer won a lawsuit against Marc, who had to pay five million dollars to his father for non-payment in relation to the exploitation of image rights.

Then there is also the lawsuit against Damian Player, the grandson, who allegedly tried to sell a number of his grandfather's memorabilia that his grandfather had stored in South Carolina. What he did sell or at least helped to sell were several Rolex watches belonging to the former golfer, for a substantial sum of money.