In this auction, we are pleased to offer all four of the Major Championship trophies that make up the Grand Slam – The Masters, The Open, the US Open, and the PGA Championship, as well as the earlier Bas-Relief Masters Trophy. To put this in perspective, in the entire history of sports memorabilia auctions (ours and all others), all 4 Major Trophies have only been offered in the same auction once before - when we offered Gary Player's trophies in our recent Winter Auction.
The Masters Tournament trophy is far and away the most elusive trophy in all of golf. Unlike the other Major Championship trophies (not to mention other sports), replicas are not produced. No salesman samples, no smaller copies, and no other versions for Augusta members or tournament VIPs. Save for a couple larger "Permanent" trophies produced for the Hall of Fame and other museums, the only way to obtain a Masters Tournament trophy is to go out and win the Masters.
This now-iconic three dimensional sterling silver trophy was first awarded in 1993, meaning that it was only presented at the time of victory to 19 different Champions (Bernhard Langer through Patrick Reed 2 years ago). Additionally, some living Masters Tournament Champions have been allowed to purchase this trophy. We can confirm that at least seven different then-living Masters Champs have trophies. If even 10 other Masters Champions obtained a trophy, that is still less than three dozen Champions that own one. A look through that list of names like Tiger, Jack, Phil, Jordan, and Sergio, it becomes quite clear that very few of these trophies will ever reach the collector market. And with the earning potential of today's golfers, we presume that no future Masters Champion will likely put his trophy for auction either.
That background information was necessary to fully illustrate one important point - only a scant few Masters Tournament trophies have ever become available, and will ever become available. In the ensuing decades, perhaps 2 or 3 collectors in the world will ever have the chance to own an official Masters Tournament trophy.
When this style of Masters Trophy was first created in 1993, the offered trophy was ordered by a pre-1993 Masters Tournament Champion. Though we'd love to name this well-known Masters Champion for the attention (and increased price) that it would garner, we do not feel that would be fair to the Champion. He wanted Mickey Powell to have this trophy over 27 years ago - surely never contemplating Mickey's eventual death and this trophy's resulting sale.
This sterling silver on wood base "clubhouse" trophy measures 13.5" wide by 6.5" tall, and weighs 20 pounds. The front of the trophy is engraved "Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club." Sterling Silver, Produced by Garrards and Hallmarked 1993. Comes with an attractive Garrard's Green Case.
Multiple Documents of Provenance including the Original 1993 Garrards Invoice
Mickey Powell Collection
The offered item in this lot comes from the Estate of former PGA of America President Mickey Powell. Long before Powell spent more than 55 years in professional golf, he began as a 13 year old caddie at the Country Club of Indianapolis. His first-ever loop was for a couple named Pete and Alice Dye, who went on to become a driving force in golf course design. Powell is credited with setting the Ryder Cup on its path towards increased prominence when he convinced his friend Jack Nicklaus to return as Captain for the 1987 Ryder Cup at his home course Muirfield Village. We considered Mickey Powell a friend, and his passion for the game of golf was unmatched. We are excited to place pieces of his collection into the hands of collectors across the globe.