Tiger Woods Signed 1997 Masters Tournament Issued Titleist Golf Bag
It was a different 'Monday after the Masters' in 1997 in many regards. The South Carolina Junior Golf Association received an oversize package with a return address of Tiger Woods' representatives who had temporarily set up shop in Augusta. It was the second best scenario for the association. Second only to the initial plan in place of Tiger Woods himself showing up at the club's fundraising event just days after The Masters conclusion, in coordination with the tournament. Woods attended the Monday After The Masters with Hootie and the Blowfish April 14th.
The Tiger Woods gold marker signed name stitched personal bag with a 'graph measuring a whopping 6 3/4 by 5" was won at silent auction for $3,100 by an individual of the local Bluffton, South Carolina community Belfair Community with their own charitable Member-Guest event later that year in mind. The second offering would come in November of 1997, by way of Belfair raffle this time.
Our consignor Joe LaGrossa held the winning light blue $100 raffle ticket titled '"Fluff Carries Tiger Woods' Bag to Win 1997 Masters: A Chance for "The Bag", taking home this bag in November 1997! It was at the Belfair Member-Guest tournament event, LaGrossa a member, with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry.
Ten years then passed without a change of ownership. In October 2007 Heritage Auctions listed and sold this bag for $89,500, presented as the 1997 Masters tournament used bag - turning heads of not just golf collectors but those of significant sport. After Largrossa's consignor check was issued, Woods' caddy Mike 'Fluff' Cowen came forth with a letter to Heritage Auctions saying that he had the winning Sunday bag, in their opinion thwarting the positioning of this bag as 1997 Masters tournament used and canceling the sale after the fact.
Golf.com picked up the story on March 10, 2022, titliing it 'The curious case of Tiger Woods' 1997 Masters bag.' Author Michael Bamberger writes after in-person inspection "We (with LaGrossa) went out to the parking lot and Joe got out the bag. I've seen hundreds of staff bags at close range. I was fully expecting to see a golf bag that did not pass the smell test. But it did." Bamberger doubled down with signs of usage, as its design match was never thought to be in question. "Joe's bag had seen action, for sure. Its pleather constructed material, the black lettering of its Titleist stamp, its heft and perfect balance - it was the real deal." He went on to say that after thorough examination Bamberger saw the only difference in this bag from the 1997 Masters winning one was the slouch above the Tiger Woods lettering on the frontside, where the bag in this lot still contains its foam inside maintaining a puffed out form appearance. Could it be removed and then added? Possible, but unlikely and for no good reason.
Telling the story of Tiger Woods winning the 1997 Masters Tournament in only his third appearance with a record 9-under 270 performance has been done many times over. The origin story of this bag chalked full of published facts has been told far less, of course paramount for this lot's lore. Issued to Tiger for the most important tournament of Woods' career while not being played with on Sunday is this bag, sent by Wood's team displaced in Augusta and received just days after the April 13, 1997 conclusion. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed this signature and their auction letter of authenticity (ALOA) comes with this lot.
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