The legendary Gary Player will participate in the ceremonial opening tee shot at the 90th edition of the Masters this Thursday. His son Wayne, however, won’t be in attendance to witness that moment.
Wayne Player hasn’t been allowed at Augusta National Golf Club due to a “tacky” decision he made at the 2021 Masters.
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As Lee Elder was being recognized during the Honorary Starters ceremony for the Masters, fans noticed that Wayne Player was holding a box of OnCore golf balls. That marketing stunt didn’t sit well with the officials at Augusta National, that’s for sure.
Not only was Wayne’s badge for Augusta National stripped from him for the rest of the week, he’s been banned from the premises.
“Well, they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity. I found out that that’s not quite true. I had probably 50 texts after that, 40 of them said I’m a marketing genius, 10 were like, ‘What the hell were you thinking.’ It wasn’t premeditated, but it was a tacky thing. I don’t mind letting people know,” he told Golf Digest. “To be completely transparent, I think it is a cool story because, you know, the National never really came out formally and said, ‘Oh, we’re not allowing Wayne Player to come back to the Masters.’ They never ever said that to the media. That’s just the way they do it. They don’t say much.”
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Apr 10, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Gary Player tips his hat to the crowd after serving as an honorary start during the first round of the Masters Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images Katie Goodale-Imagn Images
(Katie Goodale-Imagn Images)
Wayne Player tried to make up for his mistake.
After this incident occurred, Wayne Player sent an apology letter and tried to get back in Augusta National’s good graces. He was essentially told “thanks but no thanks.”
Gary Player, meanwhile, commended the officials who run the Masters for sticking to their guns.
“It was wrong. And I said to Augusta, ‘Listen, a man’s got to take his punishment.’ If he does something wrong and you don’t want him back here again, then just bar him. That’s what you go to do.”
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The 2026 Masters will begin this Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Apr 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
