Gary Player’s Major Trophies Sold — And Laddie Objects!

The weekend auction that “sold” Gary Players major championship trophies has an air of mystery surrounding it.

Late Saturday night, Golden Age Auctions posted that Players’ 1978 Masters replica trophy, his 1974 Claret Jug replica trophy, his 1965 replica U.S. Open trophy and his 1973 Wanamaker replica from his PGA win were all sold.

Here are the numbers posted:

1978 Masters:   $253,386.

1964 Claret Jug:  $143,030.

1965 U.S. Open:  $97,691.

1972 Wanamaker:  $80,736.

Earlier last week, Player had this to say:  “These trophies have been put up for auction without my permission and I am in the process of taking the necessary action to have them returned to me.”

So here’s the first mystery in this story:  How did Golden Age Golf Auctions obtain these trophies?  It clearly happened without Player’s permission.

Second mystery:  Who had these trophies in their possession and why did they put them up for auction?

Third mystery:  Will the trophies actually change hands?  In other words, did Player exhaust legal avenues to prevent the sale?

Player has been involved in some family-related litigation involving his son(s).  Did that factor into this sale?  No answers yet.

DogLegNews contacted both principal partners of Golden Age Auctions.  First we left a message for Ryan Carey, who didn’t return the call.  Our second call went to Bob Zafian, who said he’d have Carey return our call.  Never happened.  So basically no comment from the Golden Age boys.  They used to call themselves “Green Jacket Auctions” and got in a legal tussle with Augusta National Golf Club.  That’s not really something you want to do.  They did and today they are no longer “Green Jacket Auctions.”

The four trophies listed above sold for a total of $574,843 and that’s with the buyer’s premium tacked on.  Assuming that 10%, the actual high bids brought in $439,755 and change.  The auction site said it pays 85% of the high bid to the consigner of the auction item which means whoever put Gary’s trophies up for sale would receive proceeds of $373,791 and change.  Sad.

We’ll keep an eye on this story to see how it shakes out.

Stay tuned.

Bezuidenhout Comes From Behind, Wins Alfred Dunhill Championship:

While the rest of the contenders were imploding over the final nine holes a Leopard Creek Sunday, South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout came up with three birdies that powered him to his second European Tour victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Bezuidenhout finished with a three-under par 69 and a 14-under par total that was four clear of four players who tied for second at 10-under.

It’s incredible,” Bezuidenhout said afterward. “This tournament has been close to my heart since I played it for the first time. It’s always been a tournament I wanted to win and to pull it off today is really, really special to me.  I’m proud of myself to stick in there and to have pulled it off round here.”

Bezuidenhout entered the final four three behind 54-hole leader Adrian Meronk, who was trying to become the first player from Poland to win on the European Tour.  But it wasn’t his day as a 76 dropped him to 10-under and in that tie for second with Sean Crocker (72), 19-year-old Jayden Schaper (75) and Richard Bland (70).  Crocker was in a perfect position to challenge Bezuidenhout.  Crocker came to the par five 18th, 13-under for the tournament.  But he found total disaster and took a triple-bogey eight to finish his round at even par.

Dunhill Championship Scoreboard: