[PHOTO: Maddie Meyer/PGA of American]
How much would you spend on a golf hat? $50? $100? What’s the number that would make you walk away even in pro shops like St Andrews, Royal Melbourne, Bandon Dunes, Pebble Beach or Pine Valley? Well, for at least one golf fan, that number is a lot larger than you might think.
Last weekend, a simple white Nike golf cap – unremarkable in almost every way except for one – sold at a Kids Cancer Alliance charity auction for a whopping $3,496 ($US2,375). But this wasn’t just any old hat. It was the exact one Scottie Scheffler wore while shooting a five-under 66 during the second round of the PGA Championship in May, hours after he was arrested and charged with the felony assault of Louisville detective Bryan Gillis.
Easily one of the most surreal and impressive performances of his historic season, Scheffler’s showing at Valhalla Golf Club will be remembered for years to come. When golf fans woke up that morning and saw Scheffler’s mugshot, orange prison jumpsuit and all, no one thought the Masters champion would finish the championship, let alone post his best round of the week a few hours later. Now the hat that witnessed it all – and was subsequently signed by Scheffler – will live out its days as an incredible anecdote in someone’s collection. That’s pretty cool, no matter the price.
Three-and-a-half grand is still too steep for us for any hat, even one as unique as this, but we’re glad the proceeds went to a good cause.
