‘Slammin’ Sam Snead’s 1949 Maiden Winning Masters Trophy Up For Auction

2 years ago by Comments Off on ‘Slammin’ Sam Snead’s 1949 Maiden Winning Masters Trophy Up For Auction

 

This is probably another of those very rare lifetime opportunities, and your chance to own a piece of Masters history – Sam Snead’s 1949 Masters winning trophy.

The 1949 Masters was Snead’s first of three Masters victory and with 1949 among the most famous years in Masters Tournament history, as it was the very first time that a green jacket was awarded to the Champion.  Snead winning by three shots thanks to back-to-back 67s on the weekend.

Golden Age Auctions, and charged with auctioning the trophy, suggest 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.

The three dimensional sterling silver trophy was first awarded in 1993, meaning that it was only presented at the time of victory to 23 different Champions (Bernhard Langer through Jon Rahm this year).

Additionally, only living Masters Tournament Champions have been allowed to purchase this trophy, not their families or heirs or anyone else on their behalf.

The auctioners say they can confirm that at least nine different then-living Masters Champs have ordered these trophies. Combined, that is still less than three dozen Masters Champions that ever received one. A look through that list of names like Tiger, Jack, Phil, Jordan, Sergio, DJ, Matsuyama, Sheffler, Rahm, it becomes quite clear that perhaps none of these trophies will ever reach the collector market. And with the earning potential of today’s golfers, we can also presume that no future Masters Champion will likely put his trophy for auction.

As an indication of what price Snead’s first Masters trophy may fetch, in 2021, a blank/unassigned Masters Trophy and it still brought over $500,000 at auction.

As the true scarcity of Masters Tournament trophies becomes apparent and fully appreciated by collectors, we expect the couple available trophies to reach stratospheric valuations the likes of which have not yet been seen in the golf collecting hobby. Whether or not the hobby is ready for these numbers, the offered 1949 Masters Sam Snead trophy will undoubtedly command $1 million+ in the very near future, if not immediately.

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, Sam Snead 1949, 282.”

Snead passed away in 2002 aged 89 having won 82 PGA Tour events between 1936 and 1965, and with that tally currently been matched by a sidelined Tiger Woods, and with Snead winning another 60 other events worldwide.

He was fitted with three Masters winning jackets in 1949, 1952 and 1954.

One would have at a guest that this 1949 Masters trophy could go close to attracing a seven-figure sum.



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