While professional golf increasingly feels like a young man’s game, the true legends of the sport possess a longevity that spans decades. Winning a Major championship is a career-defining achievement, cementing a player’s name into the permanent fabric of golf history.
However, these five iconic players have achieved a different kind of milestone: they are the oldest living Major winners in the world today. From trailblazing international icons to history-making left-handers, these five champions continue to inspire generations of golfers simply by carrying the torch of the game’s golden era.
1. Joyce Ziske – 92 years old
What she won: 1960 Women’s Western Open
When she won it: June 1960
Place in golf history: Joyce Ziske was a foundational star in the early days of the LPGA Tour. A standout amateur who played on the 1954 Curtis Cup team, she captured four official LPGA titles. Her crowning achievement came at the 1960 Women’s Western Open, then designated as a Major championship, where she defeated Barbara Romack in a dramatic, multi-hole playoff.
Where is she now?: Ziske famously retired from professional golf at the young age of 26 to marry and focus on raising a family. Today, she resides quietly in Waterford, Wisconsin, and holds the distinction of being the first woman ever inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame.
2. Gary Player – 90 years old
What he won: 9 Regular Majors (3 Masters, 3 Open Championships, 2 PGA Championships, 1 U.S. Open)
When he won it: 1959 to 1978
Place in golf history: Lovingly nicknamed “The Black Knight”, Gary Player is arguably the greatest international golfer of all time. Alongside Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, he formed golf’s “Big Three.” In 1965, he became the third player in history to secure the modern career Grand Slam. He remains the only non-American to achieve this feat.
Where is he now?: A fierce advocate for lifelong fitness, Player remains incredibly active. He serves annually as an honorary starter at The Masters and continues to travel the globe managing his prolific golf course design firm.
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3. Sir Bob Charles – 90 years old
What he won: 1963 Open Championship
When he won it: July 1963
Place in golf history: New Zealand’s Sir Bob Charles carved out a unique piece of history at Royal Lytham & St Annes when he became the very first left-handed golfer to win a Major championship. Known for possessing one of the most clinical and smooth putting strokes the game has ever seen, Charles won 80 professional titles worldwide.
Where is he now?: Knighthood was bestowed upon him in 1999 for his extraordinary services to golf. Charles returned to his native New Zealand following his competitive retirement. He remains a highly respected patron of the sport, occasionally attending regional golf clinics and anniversary events.
4. Bobby Nichols – 90 years old
What he won: 1964 PGA Championship
When he won it: July 1964
Place in golf history: Bobby Nichols put together a legendary wire-to-wire performance at Columbus Country Club to capture the 1964 PGA Championship. He held off golf royalty by finishing three strokes ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. His winning total score of 271 set a tournament record that stood unbroken for 30 years.
Where is he now?: Nichols survived a catastrophic car accident as a teenager and was later struck by lightning on the course in 1975. He proved to be one of golf’s ultimate survivors. Today, he lives in his home state of Kentucky, occasionally making public appearances for charity events.
5. Tommy Aaron – 89 years old
What he won: 1973 Masters Tournament
When he won it: April 1973
Place in golf history: Tommy Aaron is forever remembered for donning the Green Jacket at Augusta National in 1973. He famously fought off final-round pressure to finish one stroke ahead of JC Snead. Aside from his brilliant victory, Aaron earned a unique footnote in golf history as the man who kept Roberto De Vicenzo’s mistakenly marked scorecard during the infamous 1968 Masters finish.
Where is he now: Aaron retired after a highly successful career that included decades of playing on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He currently resides in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, enjoying retirement close to the local courses where he first learned the game.
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Article Link: Player, Ziske and Charles, the oldest former Major winners still alive