Harrington dedicates bunker to Sarazen
Remembering the first Wilson Staff sand wedge
Padraig Harrington has unveiled a new bunker on Prince’s famous Himalayas course at Sandwich dedicated to the late Gene Sarazen, himself a Wilson Staff player.
Sarazen won the 1932 Open Championship at Prince's with the help of a club he invented especially for the event – the modern sand wedge.
Originally a hickory-shafted club, Sarazen used 'The Bomber' sand iron to win his only Open Championship in the UK.
The new ‘Sarazen’ bunker is located on the left of the ninth green and incorporates a bunker played from by Sarazen on his way to a five-shot victory over fellow American Macdonald Smith nearly 79 years earlier.
From that day, the Gene Sarazen sand iron, designed with a built-in flange to the sole so the club could float the ball out on a cushion of sand, was born. Consequently the R-90 sand wedge, became one of Wilson’s best-selling golf clubs.
Sarazen captured six more majors chamnpionships with his Wilson Staff irons - one of only five players to have captured a full set of titles – and enjoyed the longest running endorsement in professional sport of 75 years.
Harrington, recognised as one of the world’s best short game players, has been a leading contributor to research and development behind Wilson Staff clubs including his own FG Tour wedges.
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