1997 Masters Embroidered Pin Flag

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/18/2011

After The Golf Auction's successful Masters week sale of this item in the April 2011 auction another consignor has come forward with a seldom seen 1997 Masters embroidered pin flag and the consignor as an added bonus consigned the seldom seen 1999 PGA embroidered Medinah pin flag as well. The opportunity to pick up both these treasured flags at the same time may not come around again. During the 1980's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups ran commercials with two people colliding, one carrying chocolate and the other peanut butter. This collision and the ensuing mixture of chocolate and peanut butter caused a great product and the Reese's slogan of the day "Two great tastes that taste great together." A similar collision of two great products occurred at the 1997 Masters, and when combined led to one of the most prized items in golf collecting today. In 1997, the Augusta National featured a new pin flag in their vast souvenir shop at the Masters. This for the first time was a heavier yellow nylon material,measuring 17 3/4 X 12 3/4 with grommets. It also featured a completely embroidered center logo of the United States. This new flag was more receptive to a good looking signature for autograph fans using "sharpie pens". An instant hit with Masters patrons, this flag sold out early in the week of the Masters and this version has never been sold again through the Augusta National. Introduced in 1997 at the Masters in his first appearance as a professional golfer at the tournament, he had appeared previously as an amateur, was Tiger Woods. As the flag took souvenir hunters by storm that week, Tiger took the world of golf that week by storm winning the Masters by 12 strokes for his first Major victory. His(-18)score set the tournament record for low four day score. In the aftermath, we all know that Tiger has gone on to three more Masters titles and acclaim as the "Most Marketable Athlete in the World". Meanwhile the Masters pin flag have become the item of choice for golf autograph collectors today. The collision of these two great marketable items Tiger to the golf world, and a one-year styled pin flag from that memorable 1997 Masters have led to a huge secondary market for the limited number of 1997 Masters flags available. Verified prices for the 1997 Masters flags include Ebay realized prices of $5,300 and $5,800 (unsigned) and $6,800 at the last National Sports Collectors show in Chicago for a flag autographed by Tiger with Upper Deck authentication. "Two Great Items That Taste Great Together".