Lot # 2: Gary Player's 1974 Masters Tournament Trophy

Category: Masters Tournament

Starting Bid: $25,000.00

Bids: 34 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer 2021 Auction",
which ran from 8/12/2021 7:00 PM to
8/28/2021 7:00 PM



Offered here is Gary Player's official 1974 Masters Tournament trophy. The 1974 Masters was Gary Player's 2nd Masters Tournament victory.

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 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 is not the trophy that was received by Gary Player at the time of his victory. Mr. Player did not receive a Masters Trophy at the time of his victories except for a cigar humidor or bas relief plaque. 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 21 different Champions (Bernhard Langer through Hideki Matsuyama this year). Additionally, some living Masters Tournament Champions have been allowed to purchase this trophy. We can confirm that at least six 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. It should also be noted that even after our $523,000 sale of a Masters Trophy in our Spring Auction, we've been actively (and unsuccessfully) trying to privately acquire a Masters Trophy for a client. We could not convince any current owner of a Masters Trophy to sell theirs - even for a record price. So after this sale, we don't know when another Masters Trophy will ever come up for auction again. 

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." Engraved with the dates of all 3 Gary Player victories. Sterling Silver, Produced by Garrards of London.