Sam Snead's 1954 Masters Low Score Crystal Trophy Vase from Playoff Victory Over Ben Hogan - Rare
Though not a green jacket this prized award and similar ones for a hole-in-one, eagle or double eagle are presented for outstanding feats yearly during the Masters. They are cherished by players and known in short on the Tour as "Master's Crystal." For Sam Snead this prized Crystal Trophy Vase was earned with the low round among participants during the 18-hole playoff round victory Monday against Ben Hogan in '54 with Snead firing a 70 to Hogan's 71. Third round leader Ben Hogan carried a 214 into the fourth round, needing to make up three strokes on Sunday. Snead did just enough with a final-round 72 to Hogan's 75. Slammin Sammy Snead claimed his third win at Augusta in dramatic fashion over the fellow golfing legend.
This was the first year (1954) that this award was given out for each day’s low round. Prior playoff winners at the Masters did not receive any award other than the traditional winner’s plaque. The low round for the 1954 playoff qualified for the first time ever to win a low round Crystal Vase. The winner of this vase for low round was Sam Snead. Sam also received the customary awards for winning the Masters in addition to this trophy vase. The sudden-death Masters Tournament playoff format was put into play in 1976, with the 36-hole playoff only used to determine the winner in 1935. In between there were five 18-hole playoffs to find the Masters Champion: Byron Nelson - (1942), Sam Snead - (1954), Arnold Palmer - (1962), Jack Nicklaus - (1966), and Billy Casper - (1970).
Good luck obtaining one of the only three other 18-hole Monday playoff winner's Low Score Crystal Trophy Vases from Nicklaus, Palmer, or Casper. The Crystals of Palmer and Nicklaus will likely never hit the open market. Casper’s Crystal Vase whereabouts is unknown. This Snead Crystal Vase Trophy is likely the only one that may ever be made available for public purchase. Augusta National Golf Club's glassware provider Steuben is handwritten on the bottom of the vase. A truly difficult trophy to obtain this piece occupies an elite stratosphere in Masters collecting hierarchy. A letter of provenance from The Sam Snead Estate comes with this lot. Don’t pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. Museum piece.
Get ready to bid in extended bidding starting at 10pm ET Sunday, March 6th. Remember that ALL initial bids must be placed before extended bidding begins. The auction will end on a LOT BY LOT basis. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the end of auction rules listed below. Thank you for your continued support. - The Golf Auction
AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
Place your bids now as this auction will close LOT BY LOT beginning at 10:00pm ET Sunday, March 6th. When placing your INITIAL bid in the auction, you must agree to the terms BEFORE confirming your bid. All items with multiple bids in the auction will be eligible for the extended bidding period. Each lot will have its OWN COUNTDOWN CLOCK set for a 30-minute interval, and the clock will extend 30-minutes from the time of the most recently placed bid for that lot. If no bids are placed on that lot during a 30-minute period, the lot will close. Place your bids now!
1. You must place your initial bids BEFORE extended bidding begins to bid on the item in extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you are allowed to bid only on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. All lots with only ONE or NO BIDS will automatically close at 10pm ET
4. All available lots will begin closing on a LOT BY LOT basis at 10pm ET
**Once extended bidding starts at 10pm ET, each lot will then begin closing with its own 30-minute countdown timer. Lots without a bid during extended bidding will close at 10:30pm ET. We recommend you place your maximum bid(s) prior to that time. Thank you**
Please Note: A 19.5% Buyer's Premium will be applied to each item won in auction