1989 Ryder Cup at The Belfry Team USA Trophy Awarded to Mark Calcavecchia
Simply splendid in every last detail this Ryder Cup trophy belongs to the US Team's Mark Calcavecchia who notched two points in the international duel. The 1989 Ryder Cup matches saw, for only the second time in the history of the biennial matches, the proceedings completed in halved fashion. Per tradition members of the winning Ryder Cup squad receive slightly scaled down replica trophies to commemorate their victory, in this case each squad received awards. The trophy stands 12" tall with a diameter of 4.5" and measures 6" from handle to handle. A sterling silver plaque wraps around the base (or plinth), displaying the engraved signatures of the United States team: Paul Azinger, Chip Beck, Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples, Ken Green, Tom Kite, Mark McCumber, Mark O'Meara, Payne Stewart, Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson and team captain Ray Floyd. The Belfry / 1989 is also engraved on this band. With remarkable display quality this award of achievement features a beautiful gold plated chalice with removable lid that bears a figural golfer which bears a close resemblance to British professional Abe Mitchell. Manufactured by "JB London" with that company's hallmark appearing on the band. With its every element intact and finery retaining its definition and lustrous glow, this trophy is unrivaled in terms of Ryder Cup prizes. This rarefied offering of an official 1989 Ryder Cup trophy (with less then 40 of these crafted), is deserving of even the most elite collection. A signed letter of provenance from Mark Calcavecchia will accompany this lot.
Mark Calcavecchia Collection
The ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ in 1989 put together four rounds and a playoff during his 'finest hour' of individual golf. It was no surprise however, as Mark Calcavecchia would finish a 4-time US Ryder Cup Team Member and perennial top PGA Tour player after turning pro in 1981. A moment that any golfer dreams of having, Calcavecchia knew the magnitude of his accomplishment, with his name mentioned with the great champions of the past going forward. A testament to Calcavecchia’s cool demeanor after the 1989 Open Championship in Royal Troon, he famously told a member of the press that he both wasn’t aware of the tournament’s playoff format and jokingly asked “How’s my name going to fit on that thing?” To be fair to 'Calc' it was the first Open to use the four hole playoff instead of a full 18, and first to include three golfers. Calcavecchia was of course referring to the engraving of his name on the highly prized Claret Jug as "thing" then implied. Calcavecchia has filled up his passport many times over, amassing 29 victories across the PGA Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australia among others over four decades from 1986 until 2018.
A Florida native since 1973 and All-SEC at University of Florida, Calcavecchia has taken a gator-sized bite out of the competition. Posing for pictures with oversize winner's checks was routine, and even if the casual sports fan couldn't spell "Calcavecchia" they knew his name. In Augusta 'Calc' finished runner-up at the 1988 Masters Tournament to Sandy Lyle by a single stroke while besting him in the final round. Calcavecchia’s Sunday 70 made him leader in the clubhouse at 6-under. Lyle would birdie Augusta National Golf Club’s 18th and negate the playoff finish patrons were hoping for. His dominance at the Phoenix Open tournament continued into a new millenium, tying a PGA Tour record of 28 under par and winning his third Phoenix Open title in 2001. nearly 30 years after his PGA Tour debut, the scorching hot 49-year-old Calcavecchia set a record carding nine consecutive birdies at the 2009 RBC Canadian Open.
Many of Mark Calcavecchia’s finest individual and team on-course achievements are represented by items from his collection that The Golf Auction is proud to offer. They are accompanied by signed letters of provenance from Calcavecchia.
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