Woods' Legendary 'Tiger Slam' Irons Go Up For Auction
The purported irons the American used to achieve his incredible feat are being sold
One of the most impressive feats in the history of golf was the Tiger Slam, when, following Tiger Woods’ 2001 Masters win, he held all four Majors and The Players Championship simultaneously. Now, the irons and wedges he used to achieve the astonishing record are up for auction.
Houston businessman Ted Brock has owned the clubs since 2010 and has had them framed and displayed in his office ever since. However, he’s decided the time is right for someone else to enjoy them. Brock paid $57,242 for the clubs 12 years ago, which is likely a small amount compared to what the clubs are expected to fetch now. Golf memorabilia has sold for huge sums. Indeed, just one of Woods’ clubs, a Scotty Cameron Newton 2 putter sold for $393,000 last year.
With interest in Woods still intense, as evidenced by the announcement of his PIP Award win earlier in the month and his recent induction into the World Golf Hall Of Fame, it is expected the clubs will set a new record price for the sale of golf memorabilia. That record currently stands at $682,000, set in 2013 for the sale of the Green Jacket owned by inaugural Masters winner Horton Smith.
Up for grabs in the auction are nine Titleist 681-T irons (2-pitching wedge), two Vokey wedges, a 58-degree wedge and a 60-degree wedge. As to the authenticity of the irons, there’s little doubt they were the clubs Woods used. The clubs come with an affidavit and polygraph results from former Titleist vice president Steve Mata, who originally auctioned the irons. Meanwhile, another former Titleist vice president, Rick Nelson, includes a 2020 affidavit. Finally, the set comes with a Golfweek article from 2000 about Woods’ irons that matches the specs of the ones being auctioned.
Nevertheless, there was some controversy back in 2010 when Woods denied that Mata owned the clubs. However, Mata worked personally with Woods on his Titleist clubs and said he was given them when Woods began using a new set.
And what of Brock on his decision to part with the clubs? He told PGATOUR.com it's because they don't get the exposure they deserve. He said: “I got to enjoy them for 11-12 years. I live a boring life. I don’t entertain a whole lot, so they weren’t getting the eyes on them that they deserve.”
The clubs are up for auction until 9 April - the day before the final round of The Masters.
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Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
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