Photo: Stan Badz/PGA/getty
One of golf’s greats, Gary Player, is suing his son and grandson over the sale of his memorabilia, including trophies and clubs.
ThePalm Beach Postreported the 87-year-old — who is a part-time resident of Jupiter Island in Florida — filed a lawsuit in November against his grandson Damian Player. He filed a legal complaint against his son, Marc Player, in May,the newspaper reported.
Stuart Singer, Gary’s attorney, told the outlet the lawsuits were “reluctantly” filed after a years-long dispute between the golf pro and his son that began after he ended his business relationship with his son in 2019.
Gary won nine major championships on the regular tour and nine major championships on the Champions Tour, according toThe Palm Beach Post. He won the 1961 Masters and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
PEOPLE’s attempts to reach Singer on Friday were unsuccessful.
The more recent filing against Damian is a result of an incident where the grandson allegedly solicited buyers for memorabilia held in 19 lockers in a South Carolina storage facility, according toThe Palm Beach Post. Damian also allegedly sold or helped to sell numerous Rolex watches to someone in Florida.
According to court filings, per the newspaper, items that have already been sold without Gary’s permission include “his 1974 Master’s Tournament Trophy for $523,483, his South African Open Trophy for $48,841, his 1965 US Open irons for $17,947 and his 52nd Masters' golf shoes for $1,171.”
The lawsuit also alleges Marc failed to provide his father with his social media accounts and the web domain GaryPlayer.com.
On Twitter, Heitner, a sports and intellectual property law attorney,wrote: “I can’t imagine ever feeling compelled to sue my grandson, especially on a bogus claim, but I guess 1 of the greatest golfers of all time doesn’t care about the legacy he leaves behind.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“You cannot take back what no longer belongs to you,” Heitner wrote.
Another one of Gary’s sons has received a ban from the Masters after a promo stunt earlier this year.
Wayne Player, 59, apologized to Augusta National Golf Club after the incident, butthey did not unban him, he toldGolfDigestin May.
It was during the 2021 Masters that Wayne got into trouble after holding up a box of OnCore golf balls during a photo opportunity with Lee Elder, a Black golfer who broke the tournament’s color barrier in 1975.
“I don’tmind letting people know,” Wayne toldGolf 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, you know, 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.”
source: people.com
