Gary Player will not say that he was before his time when it comes to dieting and conditioning. To him, that would be boasting.

The three-time Masters champion is the oldest player ever to make the cut at Augusta National. Player, 62, broke the mark of Sam Snead, who was 61 when he made the cut in 1974.

``I never thought I would be here (in the third round of the Masters) at the age of 62,'' Player said. ``This (making the cut) is one of the great highlights of my career.''

Player won his Masters titles in 1961, 1974 and 1978. He has always eaten the right foods and kept himself in proper shape. He still lifts weights and runs to keep himself fit.

He started watching his diet and conditioning when he was a kid and one of his motivations for keeping it up was competing against six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus and four-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer. When Player won the Masters title in 1961, he became the first international player to win the tournament.

``When I was coming along and playing against guys like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus who were bigger and stronger than I was, I had to work hard to keep myself in top condition so I could compete against them,'' said Player, who is 5-foot-7, 147 pounds.

``People used to tell me that I wouldn't be playing at age 40 because I would be too big and too tight (from lifting weights). Now, you have these traveling gyms with all of this equipment so that players can workout and keep in shape.''

The South African-born Player is one of only four golfers - Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus are the others - to win all four major championships.

He's also the last player on the PGA Tour to win three consecutive tournaments when he won the Masters, Tournament of Champions and the Houston Open in 1978.

He said he was so pumped up and excited about his score on Friday that Saturday was anti-climatic. He plans to keep his card from Friday and take it home to Alaqua, Fla.

``All the players were very complimentary,'' Player said. ``I really do exercise a lot and watch my diet and it's been worthwhile and very rewarding. Anytime you are here and beat such stars as (Nick) Faldo, (Greg) Norman, (Sandy) Lyle and (Tom) Watson, who didn't make the cut, it's exciting. I bet you if you had gone to a bookie you could have got a million-to-one odds on that happening.''

Player has 15 top-10 finishes in 40 previous Masters appearances. Augusta National is one of his favorite courses. He said if there is a golf course like Augusta National in heaven, he hopes he's the head pro.

Even if he never makes another cut in the Masters, he'll always remember the 1998 event.

``Obviously, winning the Masters title is a greater sensation,'' Player said. ``But to make the cut at age 62, that's the greatest compliment I can get here.''