Blast from the past: Player grinds his way to second US Masters title

Today in SA sports history: April 14

1974 — Gary Player wins the second US Masters crown of his career, 13 years after he had landed his first. The South African, one shot off the third-round lead, shoots a final-round 70 to end on 10-under-par 278, two strokes clear of Dave Stockton and Tom Weiskopf. The winner’s cheque was $35,000 (R511,000).

1979 — Nkosana “Happy Boy” Mgxaji challenges for the world title, taking on Samuel Serrano of Puerto Rico for the WBA junior-lightweight title at the Goodwood showgrounds in Cape Town. Mgxaji, from East London, has the satisfaction of putting the champion down in the fifth round, but he visits the canvas three rounds later and the referee waves it over in the eighth.

1996 — SA trounce India by 80 runs in a triangular ODI match in Sharjah, UAE. Gary Kirsten scored 106 and Hansie Cronje 90 as SA put on 288/6. The Indians were restricted to 208/8 in their 50 overs, with Sanjay Manjrekar making 53. Shaun Pollock took 3/42.

2000 — Brothers Shane and Brett Lee take five wickets between them as Australia thump the Proteas by five wickets in the second ODI at Newlands to draw level in the three-match series. SA were restricted to 144/9 in their 50 overs, with Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener top-scoring on 34. Jacques Kallis struck three times to have Australia struggling on 21/3 early on, however, Damien Martyn struck 50 run from 32 balls to ensure a comfortable victory in the 25th over.

2003 — The Proteas smash hosts Bangladesh by 83 runs in an ODI triangular tournament in Dhaka. Boete Dippenaar scored 66 and Herschelle Gibbs 62 in SA’s 294/3. Shaun Pollock took four wickets and Alan Dawson three as the visitors bowled out Bangladesh for 211.

2007 — The Proteas lose to New Zealand by five wickets in a World Cup Super Eight match at St George’s, Grenada. Herschelle Gibbs’ 60 was the top score in the SA total of 193/7. Shaun Pollock kept SA in the hunt with 1/30 in 10 overs, but Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming hit 50 and Scott Styris 56 to steer their team to victory with 10 balls remaining.