Billionaire makes shocking Tiger Woods claim
The billionaire owner of the golf ball Tiger Woods used to win the 1997 Masters Tournament at Augusta National has admitted he's not sure where it is.
The billionaire owner of the golf ball Tiger Woods used to win his first Masters title in 1997 has admitted he's not really sure where it is.
Former Augusta National chairman Warren Stephens made the claim on the latest edition of the GolfersJournal podcast.
According to Stephens, either Woods or his then-caddie Fluff handed his son the golf ball after the 21-year-old won the first of his five green jackets at Augusta National.
The 1997 Masters win remains one of the most significant moments in golf history given the manner of his triumph.
Woods struggled in the first round, playing his first nine holes in 4-over. He fought back to card a 2-under 70.
Then he turned it on.
After 54 holes, Woods' nine-shot lead was the largest in Masters Tournament history.
Woods ended up winning by 12.
It meant he became the youngest golfer ever to win the major and was the first of colour to slip on the green jacket.
"My oldest son was 11, he was sitting on 18 when Tiger walked off," Stephens told the podcast.
"Tiger or Fluff put the ball, gave the ball to our son. Now, the million-dollar question is where is it? And I'm not 100 per cent sure.
"I'm not really sure. Um, I think we've still got it somewhere.
"Well, it's probably in our house somewhere."
Remarkable.
Watch the clip here:
What happened to Tiger’s ‘97 Masters winning ball? Hear Warren Stephens talk Augusta, the Alotian, and the Stephens Cup on the @GolfersJournal podcast. https://t.co/IsPaNnI5Lx pic.twitter.com/oLIJZmDDj5
— Tom Coyne (@coynewriter) October 23, 2024
One wonders how much that ball is worth, given the sizable chunks of money Tiger-Woods related items have fetched in auctions in recent years.
Let's take a look at some of those items:
Item | Price sold at auction |
1997 Masters putter | $88,809 (2001) |
Backup Scotty Cameron putter | $393,300 (2022) |
Golf ball used in 2005 Masters | $64,124 (2001) |
Autographed rookie card | $369,000 (2021) |
2000 U.S. Open final round Nike hat | $30,326 (2021) |
1997 Masters signed flag | $42,000 (2022) |
Tournament irons used from 'Tiger Slam' | $5.16m (2022) |
Signed golf glove from 2001 Masters | $18,000 (2021) |
1997 signed Masters polo | $10,000 (2020) |
Tiger Woods injury update
Woods revealed on 13 September that he underwent another surgery on his back.
No time-frame has been given for his return.
But it is anticipated he will make his TGL debut on 14 January.
Click here to see all the fixtures.
Woods has also announced the field for the Hero World Challenge.
Three spots are yet to be confirmed, though, meaning he could tee it up in December at the annual event he hosts on the PGA Tour in the Bahamas.
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