One of golf’s greatest ever players, Player won nine major championships during his career. Two of those came in 1974, when the South African completed a famous double, winning The Open and the Masters in the space of a few months.
Earlier this week it was revealed that the replica Claret Jug Player was given for being crowned Champion Golfer of The Year was sold at auction, with the piece of golfing history selling for a whopping £377,000.
“The rarity of official large Claret Jugs like this cannot be overstated,” the Golden Age auction listing read. “Though we’ve had the privilege of offering seven different Masters Tournament trophies for auction over the years, this is the ONLY official large Claret Jug that we’ve ever brought to auction.
“To many collectors, an official Claret Jug is unquestionably golf collecting’s Holy Grail.” In the days following the sale however, Player has revealed he had know say in the matter. “Several articles have been written about the recent sale of a replica Claret Jug that I won at the 1974 Open and that was recently auctioned,” he said in a statement.
“I feel that it is necessary for me to correct inaccuracies contained in those articles. Neither of the 1974 Masters Trophy nor the 1974 Open Trophy were sold by me or by one of my companies. Each of these trophies was granted to me for my sole use and enjoyment as winner of the respective Majors.
“The person entrusted with ensuring the safekeeping of these items on my behalf and who was tasked with using them to enshrine my golfing achievements has done the opposite by offering them for sale without my consent and against my wishes. My legal team is taking appropriate steps to resolve this unlawful situation.”
This has not the first time Player has stressed that pieces of his silverware have been sold against his will. Player pointed the finger at his former manager, and son Marc Player back in 2022. “I would like to draw the public’s attention to the fact that several trophies and other pieces of memorabilia that form part of my legacy have been put up for auction by my son and ex-manager, Marc.
“These items belong to me and I have taken action to recover them. I have placed no items for sale – whether by auction or otherwise.” At the time, Player’s son denied any wrongdoing, claiming in a statement that the pieces of silverware in question were given to him as a gift by his father.
