Irons used by Tiger Woods for the "Tiger Slam" back in 2000-01 sold Saturday night for an astounding price of $5.15 million.
The clubs, auctioned off by golf specialty auction house Golden Age Auctions, were photomatched to photos of Woods playing with the equipment when he was famously the reigning champion of all four golf major championships — the 2000 U.S. Open, the 2000 Open Championship, the 2000 PGA Championship and the 2001 Masters.
The price paid is not only a huge win for the auction house, but for Texas businessman Todd Brock, who bought them at this auction house 13 years ago for $57,242. They've been on display in his office ever since.
“I bought them at the best time, when Tiger was at his low point, and I might have sold them at the best time,” Brock told Action Network.
Brock said he thought the clubs were $1 million clubs when he bought them, but he never had any intention to sell them.
“But then I looked at them in my office every day and I kind of thought to keep it in there was kind of greedy,” Brock said. “Let someone else enjoy them.”
The irons come with affidavits from two Titleist executives in charge of Tiger's clubs, both of whom witnessed Tiger give these particular clubs away.
“Collectors have been overlooking golf collectibles for years,” Golden Age Auctions owner Ryan Carey told Action Network. “Not anymore. The golf collecting hobby took a big leap forward tonight. Tiger Woods memorabilia deserves its spot next to the other GOATs like Jordan, Brady and Mantle. Now, it finally got there.”
The $5.15 million is a record for any piece of golf memorabilia, having surpassed the $682,000 a collector paid Golden Age in 2013 for the Green Jacket of Horton Smith, who won the Masters in 1934 and 1936.
It’s believed to be the third-most-expensive piece of sports memorabilia (non-card) ever sold, behind the original Olympic manifesto from 1892 ($8 million) and a Babe Ruth Yankees jersey ($5.64 million).
Brock said the proceeds will go to his foundation, which is geared toward “helping the hopeless.”
Woods turned heads in his first round of competitive golf in 17 months on Thursday, as he shot 1-under 71 at the Masters. Tiger made the cut on Friday, but he shot a 6-over 78 on Saturday and is tied for 41st heading into the final round.
