“I can honestly say that I don’t know any association that I’m more excited to be involved with than Humana. This is something that is very close to my heart. I was pleased to be at La Quinta for the Humana Challenge and take the first drive off the first tee to open the tournament.”
humana and i are a perfect fit
I
T was a great honour for me to become Brand Ambassador and co-Host for the Humana Challenge, which was previously the Bob Hope Classic. The partnership with a company like Humana is something I’ve been waiting to come along for a long time. Humana are a very dynamic company and their beliefs are very much in line with my own. I’m looking forward to a lasting, long-term relationship and helping to contribute in their drive against obesity, not only in the United States where it is a growing problem of huge proportions, but also worldwide. Humana is a global company and one of the United States’ leading health and well-being organisations, and the Humana Challenge, which they sponsor along with the William J. Clinton Foundation, is a huge fund-raising event. The partnership with Humana is particularly appropriate with this year being the 60th anniversary of my career as a professional golfer – which we celebrated on January 3 – and the 30th anniversary of The Player Foundation, which, over the years, has raised more than $50 million for underprivileged children. As a leader in the health care industry, Humana is providing a wonderful service to all those impacted by their care and health coverage. Over my 60-year golfing career I’ve placed great emphasis on fitness and a healthy diet, and now, at this stage of my life, I can see the benefits of my lifelong commitment to fitness more than ever. I greatly admire the efforts and commitment of Humana and President Clinton, who is heavily involved in this great tournament through the William J. Clinton Foundation. The Humana Challenge raised more than $100 million in pledges at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative – IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GOLF. Now at the age of 77 I hope to serve as a testament for the benefits of healthy living both on and off the golf course. I haven’t had the chance to play golf with President Clinton but I’ve spent time with him at The Presidents Cup and he’s the warmest and most personable individual you could wish to meet. We spoke about diets and keeping fit and about South Africa and how great it was to see the changes and improvements that have taken place in the country – and we spoke about Nelson Mandela, a man we both love and admire very much. It’s a wonderful experience being around President Clinton. I can honestly say that I don’t know any association that I’m more excited to be involved with than Humana. This is something that is very close to my heart. I was pleased to be at La Quinta for the Humana Challenge and take the first drive off the first tee to open the tournament. Fortunately for me the ball flew 250 yards straight down the fairway. It was a very nice week being with President Clinton and the
Humana Chairman Mike McCallister, and CEO Bruce Broussard and their representatives. We were treated to some great golf and an exciting finish when Brian Gay won on the first hole of a three-way play-off to defeat Charles Howell III and David Lingmerth. I had played in the Bob Hope Classic a number of times and always enjoyed the event and meeting Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. Palm Springs was always a wonderful place to go. I remember losing the Classic in a play-off to Jack Nicklaus but I enjoyed spending time with President Eisenhower, a man I admired greatly. Joining forces with Humana to improve people’s health, I’m looking forward to contributing in their efforts in seeing that children, in particular, have a proper healthy diet and exercise regime, and tackling the increasing problems of childhood obesity. When I started working with weights around 1953 there were only two golfers who did it – myself and Frank Stranahan. I was ridiculed a lot for doing weights. There was a famous golf architect who mistakenly predicted: ‘Gary Player will be finished by the time he’s 35 because you cannot do weight training and play golf.’ I recently shot 66 playing in a golf tournament in South Africa – 11 shots below my age. I frequently shoot below my age, although it’s true to say, of course, that the older I get, the easier it is to shoot my age. My lasting memory regarding exercise and diet is of my elder brother when he went war in 1943. I was nine years old but I can still see him standing there in his khaki uniform saying to me: ‘Look, you’re small of stature so you must promise to me that you’ll exercise for the rest of your life because you want to be a professional athlete.’ I made that promise and I’ve adhered to it ever since. Staying in shape and keeping my weight down as I’ve got older has been essential for me. I won the Grand Slam on the regular Tours and I won the Grand Slam on the Senior Tours. Winning the Grand Slam as an over-50 was far more difficult than winning it on the regular Tours. I wasn’t interested in the money. I just wanted to be the best I could be and win the most Major championships I could win. It’s been a wonderful 60 years as a professional golfer and I’m still enjoying my golf and doing some good in the world through golf. Q www.wwgolf.biz
37