In recent years there have been several golf-related items that have brought big bucks at auction. But when the item once belonged to Tiger Woods, it takes on an added importance.
Golden Age Auctions once again is offering a backup of Woods’ renowned Scotty Cameron putter, this one from the 2002 season (Cameron would habitually make Woods one to three backups per season, most of which were eventually given away). A similar auction last year for a backup from the 2001 season sold for $US154,928.
The current auction runs until 7pm (American time) on August 28 and, given the early bidding, the putter is likely to bring in a nice haul. As of this writing, 12 bids had been received with the top bid at $US71,327.
According to the auction listing, the putter “has spent the past 18-plus years in the Far East, the Middle East and Europe.” Two days before the auction opened for bidding, the valuable flat stick cleared customs and was sent to Golden Age Auctions’s warehouse.
Of course, the eventual price tag for this putter – which has “T.W.” stamped on the toe and “Scotty Cameron” stamped vertically near the heel along with a single dot sightline on the topline – will be nowhere near what Woods’ “gamer” used in 14 of his 15 Major championship wins would fetch. Although that putter almost certainly will never see anything outside of Woods’ bag or home, Golden Age Golf Auction’s co-founder Ryan Carey, a golf memorabilia collector himself, said in a 2019 interview with Golf Channel that it would go for $3 million to $5 million if ever available. Carey inserted a note into the auction listing for the 2002 backup that he believes now that his estimate was too low.
Which might make the current backup putter somewhat of a bargain. Provided you have an extra hundred grand or so lying around.
