US Masters golf ball auctioned

A GOLF ball used by the legendary golfer Tiger Woods during the US Mas ters in 1997 sold on Sun day, April 9, for $64,124.40 (approx €58,723). During the final round of the tour nament at the world mous Augusta National Golf Club, the American star bogeyed the fifth hole. Woods subsequently gave his ball to Julian Nexsen, who was a nine year ‐ old boy at the time. The player went on to win his historic first major that day, becoming the youngest player in history to win the famous golf tournament. In the process, Woods broke the pre‐vious record held by Jack Nicklaus by racking up a four ‐ day score of 270, 18 under par.

On March 27, Nexsen put the ball up for auction with the Golden Age Auction house. It started with an initial bid of $500 (approx €457.89) but its price

A spokesperson for the auction house said: “Unless Tiger himself or his caddie Fluff inten ‐tionally saved a ball from this historic final round (which we doubt), this may be the only confirmed golf ball from the final round of Tiger Woods’ first Major Championship victory.”

Many might doubt the authenticity of this ball but the moment when Woods handed it to Mr Nexsen was forever cap ‐tured in print the next day when the Washing ‐ton Times ran it on its front page. It wrote: “After making his first bogey in 36 holes yester ‐day, Woods stopped on his way to the sixth tee to give a ball to nine‐year ‐ old Julian Nexsen of Greenville, SC.”