Gene Sarazen's c.1920's Personal Match Used 'G.S.' Stamped Thos. E. Wilson Co. Driver
On this club's crown in a ribbon just below 'Gene Sarazen' is Thos. E. Wilson Co., designating Gene Sarazen's personal driver consigned by his grandson Gene Sarazen II in this lot as prior to 1925. Wilson Company had a merger with Chicago's Western Sporting Goods Co. in 1925 which lead to a short-term name change to Wilson-Western Sporting Goods Co., then permanently changed to simply Wilson Sporting Goods in 1931. Sarazen turned professional in 1920 and won both the US Open and PGA Championship in 1922 while serving for a short while as the head club professional at the Pittsburgh club of Highland Country Club in between the majors. The highly significant initials personalization 'G.S.' is found just above the club type 'DRIVER' on the red and brown sole. This driver shows both wear and some aging, while maintaining both the aforementioned crown stamping and significant sole stamps.
The elder statesman of the modern day Grand Slam, Gene Sarazen, won the second Masters Tournament in dramatic fashion when he hit "The shot heard 'round the world" in the 1935 Masters Tournament. It was a final round 235-yard 4-wood on the par-5 15th hole that went in, giving him a very rare double eagle 2 on the hole. He trailed the leader by three shots at the time, and made them up all at once. It led to his later winning the tournament in an 18-hole playoff over Craig Wood the next day. At the time of his second shot a check for $1,500, the winning prize, had already been written to Craig Wood, who had finished his round. Wood would have to wait another six years before finally winning his Masters title. The Sarazen Bridge at the Augusta National Golf Club is named to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of this feat. It remains one of the most famous shots in golf history. In addition to this fabled tournament he made claim to the U.S. Open in 1922, 1932, PGA Championship in 1922, 1923, 1933, British Open in 1932. Measures 37." A letter of provenance from Gene Sarazen III will accompany this lot.
The December Golf Auction is our 10th and final Auction of 2023, thank you for another great year! Please utilize the categories column to help you navigate towards your preferred collectibles, and remember that all initial bids must be placed before 10pm ET, Sunday, December 17th in order to participate on those lots during extended bidding.
AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
1. Place your initial bids BEFORE 10pm ET Sunday December 17th in order to bid on the item(s) during extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you may only bid on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. Lots with only ONE or NO BIDS at the time of auction close will close at 10pm ET
Extended bidding starts at 10pm ET, and all lots will begin closing with their own 30-minute countdown clock. Clock will reset to 30 minutes with each bid, please refresh your page. Thank you
Please Note: TGA will charge the Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) a commission (Buyer’s Premium) of nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) on the successful and final bid price of each of the Item(s) or lot(s) won. No discounts apply. No returns. TGA is not responsible for customs, duties, brokerage and/or similar charges on items shipped internationally. Placement of a bid in this auction constitutes acceptance of all of the terms and conditions in this auction. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.