In the 1929 U.S. Open at Winged Foot G.C., Bobby Jones made a clutch putt on the 72nd hole to tie Al Espinosa and then obliterated Espinosa the following day in a 36-hole playoff. Many said it was the springboard to Jones’ Grand Slam the following year. And now a little bit of that history is for sale.
Starting today, Pure Golf Auctions is accepting bids on a lot that features Jones’ official, signed scorecards from that playoff. According to Tom Stewart of Pure Golf Auctions, the item is expected to fetch between $25,000 and $45,000.
Other items include a signed Babe Ruth scorecard from Bermuda’s Mid Ocean Club (Ruth famously once tried to drive the green on the water-laden, par-4 fifth hole and emptied his bag of golf balls in the attempt) as well as a signed invitation from Bobby Jones to former USGA president Ike Grainger to join Augusta National Golf Club.
Pinehurst-based Pure Golf Auctions was founded by Tom Stewart and although it specializes in golf-related memorabilia, its lots do feature other sports-related items (the lot with the Jones scorecard, for example, also includes a rare Ty Cobb baseball card). One of its first auctions included the work desk of Samuel Ryder, for whom the Ryder Cup is named.
In recent years there has been significant interest in golf items at auction, including a set of irons Tiger Woods used during his "Tiger Slam" and, more recently, a number of Arnold Palmer-related items. "I'm excited to see what the bidding is like on this lot," said Stewart. "The Bobby Jones name carries a lot of history with it and many people know the significance of that win in the 1929 U.S. Open. I'm sure it will generate significant interest from golf collectors."
Bidding on the lot closes on August 19. For more information go to puregolfauctions.com.
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