Gary Player's Open Championship trophy sold for $481,000

Gary Player's 1974 Open Championship victory was one of the most illustrious wins in his professional career. Held at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Old Links in Lancashire, England, Player won the third Claret Jug of his career in 1974. However, the trophy is now in someone else's hands.

It was recently revealed that the South African golfer's prized trophy was sold. An unidentified bidder paid $481,000 for Player's Claret Jug. This auction was carried conducted by Golden Age Auctions, which has developed a reputation for being one of the premium golf auction houses in the world.

To win the 1974 Open Championship, Gary Player defeated English golfer Peter Oosterhuis by a margin of four strokes. Before arriving at the St. Annes Old Links, Player had already won the 1974 Masters which put him in a great spot ahead of The Open.

This is not the first time Gary Player has sold a trophy. Previously, Golden Age Auctions had helped him auction his 1978 Masters Tournament Trophy. This trophy had a starting bid of $10,000 and was eventually sold for $253,386.

Apart from trophies, Player also auctioned a piece of equipment he used to win the 1956 US Open. Once again through Golden Age Auctions, Player sold a set of Gary Player Black Knight model Shakespeare woods for a price of $8,070.

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A look at the Major Championships won by Gary Player

Gary Player hits his tee shot in the honorary starters ceremony at the 2024 Masters (Credits: IMAGN)

Gary Player had a total of 159 professional wins in his professional golf career. 24 of these professional wins came on the PGA Tour, and here is a detailed list of the Major championships won by Player:

• Year: 1959
• Event: The Open Championship
• Overall Score: −4 (75-71-70-68=284)
• Margin of Victory: 2 strokes
• Runners Up Fred Bullock, Flory Van Donck
• Year: 1961
• Event: Masters Tournament
• Overall Score: −8 (69-68-69-74=280)
• Margin of Victory: 1 stroke
• Runners Up: Charles Coe, Arnold Palmer
• Year: 1962
• Event: PGA Championship
• Overall Score: −2 (72-67-69-70=278)
• Margin of Victory: 1 stroke
• Runner Up: Bob Goalby
• Year: 1965
• Event: U.S. Open
• Overall Score: +2 (70-70-71-71=282)
• Margin of Victory: Playoff1
• Runner Up: Kel Nagle
• Year: 1968
• Event: The Open Championship (2)
• Overall Score: +1 (74-71-71-73=289)
• Margin of Victory: 2 strokes
• Runner Up: Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus
• Year: 1972
• Event: PGA Championship (2)
• Overall Score: +1 (71-71-67-72=281)
• Margin of Victory: 2 strokes
• Runner Up: Tommy Aaron, Jim Jamieson
• Year: 1974
• Event: Masters Tournament (2)
• Overall Score: −10 (71-71-66-70=278)
• Margin of Victory: 2 strokes
• Runner Up: Dave Stockton, Tom Weiskopf
• Year: 1974
• Event: The Open Championship (3)
• Overall Score: −2 (69-68-75-70=282)
• Margin of Victory: 4 strokes
• Runner Up: Peter Oosterhuis
• Year: 1978
• Event: Masters Tournament (3)
• Overall Score: −11 (72-72-69-64=277)
• Margin of Victory: 1 stroke
• Runner Up: Rod Funseth, Hubert Green, Tom Watson