Golf icon Player tips Day to win Masters
Golf legend and Laureus Academy Member Gary Player, one of only five men to win golf's Grand Slam, has tipped Australian Jason Day to win next week's Masters at Augusta.
Talking to Laureus.com, Player also gives his views on Day's Nomination for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award and Jordan Spieth's double Nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award and the Breakthrough Award.
" There are a host of players that can win [The Masters], but I loved Jason Day's swing long before he won [the USPGA] and I've always loved Jason Day's game. At the moment, I would say Jason Day, " said Player.
" Jordan Spieth's game is suited to Augusta. He's the best putter. If you said to me, would I like to be the best driver of a golf ball or the best putter; I'd take the best putter every day, " added the South African golfing icon.
On the Nominations for the Laureus World Sportsmen's Award Player added: " I think it's a great honour [for Spieth] to be in there with people like Djokovic and Usain Bolt and Hamilton and Messi, all these fantastic sportsmen. So it's going to be very interesting to see who wins."
'I'm not in favour of continuously making all these golf courses around the world longer, because it takes more water, and the world is running out of water. So slow the ball down for professional golf and leave the ball as it is for the amateurs.'
Player also slammed the sudden death rule for deciding Major tournaments. " A sudden death play-off is an absolute nonsense, " he said.
" You play 72 holes for a tournament and then you decide it on one hole. How do you decide on a Masters or a US PGA winner on one hole?"
The 17th Laureus World Sports Awards, which is broadcast to a global TV audience, will be held in the Messe Berlin Palais am Funkturm on the evening of Monday, April 18.