Gary Player has caused plenty of controversy throughout his time in the professional game.

Player is an extremely uncompromising character. If he doesn’t like something, you better believe he will call it out.

The South African’s incredible record of 159 tournament wins worldwide, including nine major championships, gives him a certain kind of authority to speak on all matters pertaining to the game.

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Because of the 90-year-old’s forthright, no-nonsense attitude, he often rubs people up the wrong way.

Player has often fallen out with his fellow pros throughout the years, including high-profile clashes with Johnny Miller and Tom Watson.

The nine-time major champion was accused of gamesmanship by Miller in 1973 after he took four minutes to rake a bunker.

And it’s fair to say that there may have been some gamesmanship on display during Player’s clash with Tony Jacklin during the World Matchplay Championship nearly 60 years ago.

Why Gary Player regretted his behaviour after Tony Jacklin clash

Player revealed in his book – ‘To Be The Best’ – that he crossed the line during a match against Tony Jacklin at Wentworth way back in 1968.

The South African came head-to-head with the Englishman in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay Championship.

Player was looking to win his third title at Wentworth and he faced a man who had the entire Wentworth crowd right behind him.

The nine-time major winner prevailed against Jacklin in the end, and he went on to win his third World Matchplay crown.

However, Player’s semi-final clash with Jacklin did not pass without incident. The South African revealed all in his book, which was released in 1991.

“It was certainly tension of the moment that prompted me to act wrongly against Tony Jacklin in the 1968 semi-final at Wentworth,“ Player admitted.

“I knew the crowd were pulling for Tony and it was understandable enough because he was the new hero and we had engaged in a marathon match that had gone the full thirty-six holes without a result and had to be postponed overnight because of bad light.

“The next morning I stood over a putt on the first extra hole and I could hear this person saying ‘Miss it! Miss it!’ I holed it and before Tony could hit his ball to save the match I went over to the guy and began to remonstrate with him. I tore into him, I was so uptight.

“Tony waited, stepped back and then missed his putt. What I did was completely wrong. I should have walked away.“

That was actually really poor from Gary Player, but at least he had the decency to admit the error of his ways and apologize for his behavior.