New Gary Player book preaches lessons for golf, life

Think of all the great ones in golf.

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan.

Where does Gary Player enter the equation? Probably higher on the list than most people would think. The Black Knight got more out of his diminutive body, pound per pound, than any player in history. Player’s legendary will and fitness regimen defied all odds to make him a champion with 164 victories world-wide.

Player’s book, “Don’t Choke: A Champion’s Guide to Winning Under Pressure,” delves deep into how Player survived - and even thrived - in golf’s golden era, competing against Palmer and Nicklaus and Lee Trevino. Palmer believes “Gary is one of the greatest competitors who ever played the game.”

The book, published by Sky Horse Publishing, uses Player’s stories from his major championship victories to dish advice that can translate to your personal life and the business world. He doesn’t reinvent the wheel, so to speak. He writes about things we’ve all heard before, but maybe his message will stick.

Player preaches having a healthy perspective, playing against yourself and the course, respecting your game, executing a game plan and most important, brushing off the things you can’t control. The book, released July 10, retails for $19.95.