Pebble Beach, California ….
How much would you pay for a replica of the Claret Jug worth?
Well we will find out on February 17th as former Open Champion John Daly is selling his replica of the most sought-after trophy in all of golf.
Daly won a second Major Championship at the 1995 Open in defeating gallant Italian Costantino Rocca in a fourhole play-off over the Old Course at St. Andrews.
However, the now 51-year old Daly is selling his three-quarter size replica of the oldest trophy in Major Championship competition through the US-based Heritage Auctions.
Winners of The Open are permitted to retain the full-size Claret Jug for a year ahead of returning the trophy in the week of their Open title defence.
Daly and other Open Champions are allowed to purchase replica versions of the Claret Jug but that has since been restricted after 2007 and 2008 Open Champion, Padraig Harrington sought ‘multiple’ Claret Jug replicas.
Heritage Auctions indicate Daly ‘earned comparisons to iconic ballplayer Babe Ruth during his decorated but checkered career’ in winning at the Home of Golf.
Daly had burst onto the international stage after initially being well-down the reserve list to capture the 1991 PGA Championship.
He then found himself in a play-off for the 1995 Open after Rocca holed a sensational 65-foot putt from the ‘Valley of Sin’ to tie the American at the end of regulation play.
Heritage Auction added: “The victory at St. Andrews would effectively mark the end of Daly’s prime, as his alcoholism would become so problematic that he’d drop out of the 1997 US Open with the shakes.”
The company indicated bidding for the Claret Jug will commence at 8pm (US East Coast time) on February 17th and with the trophy to fetch upwards of $100,000.
The current highest bid stands at $28,000.
