Tiger Woods gained the 1997 Masters by a record-setting 12 photographs.
Getty Pictures
In 1997, Tiger Woods famously gained his first main championship on the Masters in record-setting vogue. His four-round whole of 18 below par resulted in a 12-stroke margin of victory over Tom Kite — a report that also stands to at the present time.
Given its historic significance, any memorabilia from that Masters is price a small fortune. In recent times, the “Tiger Slam” irons fetched $5.1 million, and Woods’ Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS bought for nearly $400,000.
However what occurred to the ball Woods used for his last strokes earlier than signing for a Sunday 69 at Augusta Nationwide? In line with Warren Stephens, son of then-Augusta Nationwide chairman Jackson T. Stephens, Woods’ ball discovered its means into Warren’s son’s hand, simply off the 18th inexperienced.
On the newest The Golfer’s Journal Podcast hosted by Tom Coyne, Warren mirrored on the momentous day in 1997.
“Dad had the honour of being the chairman when Tiger gained his first main and his first Masters,” Warren mentioned. “I used to be there. It was nice. Everyone was so excited as a result of right here, you recognize, everyone is aware of Tiger Woods, with all this potential.
How was Tiger Woods No. 1 for thus lengthy? He answered with 14 phrases
“My oldest son was 11. He was sitting off of 18 when Tiger walked off. It didn’t make the Sports activities Illustrated image, however there was one other golf journal that has — there’s an image of him and one other man proper there when Tiger comes off 18, and really both Tiger or Fluff put the ball, gave the ball to our son.”
That 11-year-old boy would now be nearing 40. However does he nonetheless have the ball?
“I’m not 100% positive,” Warren Stephens confessed. “I feel we’ve nonetheless bought it someplace. It’s in all probability in our home someplace.”
If the Stephens household may discover the ball, it will seemingly fetch fairly a worth. In 2023, a ball Woods gave to 9-year-old fan Julien Nexsen on the fifth gap through the last spherical of the 1997 Masters bought for $64,164 from public sale home Golden Age Auctions. The ball, a Titleist Skilled, had the phrase “Tiger” stamped on it.
“Except Tiger himself or his caddie Fluff deliberately saved a ball from this historic last spherical (which we doubt), this can be the one confirmed golf ball from the ultimate spherical of Tiger Woods’ first main championship victory,” Golden Age Auctions mentioned within the ball’s description on-line.
However appears like there’s a minimum of another ball on the market.
You could take heed to the full episode of the podcast right here.
