Gary Player’s son reportedly banned from Masters after marketing stunt

FILE - Honorary starters Lee Elder and Jack Nicklaus of the US with South Africa's Gary Player during the ceremonial start on the first day of play of the Masters. Behind Elder, Player’s caddie and son, Wayne, can be seen holding up a sleeve of OnCore golf balls, a company he has been an ambassador for since 2019. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

FILE - Honorary starters Lee Elder and Jack Nicklaus of the US with South Africa's Gary Player during the ceremonial start on the first day of play of the Masters. Behind Elder, Player’s caddie and son, Wayne, can be seen holding up a sleeve of OnCore golf balls, a company he has been an ambassador for since 2019. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Published Apr 13, 2021

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CAPE TOWN – Gary Player’s son, Wayne, has reportedly been banned from The Masters after taking part in an apparent marketing ploy during honouring of Lee Elder, the first black golfer to compete in the competition.

According to news.com.au, the 58-year-old Wayne, who was caddying for his father, was seen holding up a sleeve of OnCore golf balls, a company he has been an ambassador for since 2019, during the honouring of Elder.

ALSO READ: Masters should have honoured Lee Elder when he could still hit the ceremonial shot

On Monday, Player’s brother Marc took to Twitter to apologise for the incident, which was widely condemned.

Marc posted: “Wayne has since correctly been banned from Augusta National and The Masters tournament.

ALSO READ: SA golf great Gary Player slammed after accepting Donald Trump award

“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.”

Marc also spoke out earlier this year after his father received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from controversial former US President Donald Trump.

ALSO READ: Golfer Gary Player gets $5 million in legal dispute with son

The honour from the former president was received in a closed-door ceremony, a day after a mob of Trump supporters invaded the US Capitol building.

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