The pick of the spring golfing lots is offered by Graham Budd Auctions (020 8366 2525) on May 12 at Sotheby's, New Bond Street, London. Nick Faldo fans won't want to miss this opportunity to bid on two very personal lots relating to his first Major triumph, at the 1987 Open Championship at Muirfield.
The Wilson bag Sir Nick used in the first two rounds is up for grabs, signed by him in black marker pen. It was presented by Faldo to the famed British putting coach Harold Swash. Estimate: £250 - 350.
His player's badge, with that unmistakeable blue enamel band inscribed ‘116th Open Championship 1987, Player' is guided at £600 - 800.
Also available is his badge from the following year's Open at Lytham St. Annes, priced at £350 - 450. The badges come with a signed letter of authenticity from the caddie Paul Stevens. Stevens is the world's longest serving professional golfers' caddie. He has caddied at such courses as Augusta (Masters), Oak Tree, Crooked Stick and Shoal Creek (USPGA), and Brookline, Inverness and Oak Hill (U.S. Opens). He has carried the bag of the legendary Sam Snead, as well as Christy 0' Connor Snr., Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange and Sandy Lyle.
A unique Team Great Britain & Ireland 1973 Ryder Cup caddie's tabard from Steven's collection features in the sale. Printed with the Union Jack and inscribed ‘Butler, Ryder Cup 1973', it is signed in fine black felt tip pen by all the members of the GB & I and United States teams, including the captains, with the sole exception of Peter Oosterhuis. It is valued between £1,200 and 1,800.
The sale includes rare books from the golfing library of Sir Peter Allen (1905-1993), a fanatic golfer and Chairman of UK Chemical giant ICI, who wrote a number of seminal books on the game.
Finally, you may remember the 1929 Ryder Cup Dinner menu that went under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers, tennants.co.uk, on April 16. It was signed by the British and US teams as well as by Samuel Ryder, J.H. Taylor and James Braid, and realised an impressive £8,500 against a £5,000 - 6,000 estimate.
You can read Jasper's regular blog at jenningsprints.com and email him at jasper@jenningsprints.com.
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