Snead's Claret Jug Brings In $262K At Auction

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For Immediate Release...

Sam Snead’s 1946 British Open Claret Jug brings $262,900 to lead The Sam Snead Collection, Aug. 1, at Heritage Auctions
 
Offered by Snead’s family; “Slammin’” Sam Snead’s 1954 Masters trophy draws spirited bidding to realize $191,200; 14 featured lots total $1,106,868 for rare memorabilia Heritage’s Platinum Night Sports event at the National in Chicago
 
DALLAS – The name of Sam Snead, one of the greatest golfers to have ever graced the links, inspired collectors to “Major” heights as his 1946 British Open Claret Jug brought $262,900 as the heart of The Sam Snead Collection, offered as the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ Aug. 1-2 Platinum Night Sports Auction in Rosemont, IL, taking place in conjunction with The National Sports Collector’s Convention.
 
The first 14 lots of the Snead Collection realized an impressive $1,106,868 altogether.
 
Snead’s 1954 Masters trophy also provided considerable fireworks in Chicago, as the trophy rose to $191,200, finally selling to an anonymous collector bidding online.
 
“One smart and determined collector actually won The British Open tonight, or at least the trophy,” joked Chris Ivy, Director of Sports at Heritage Auctions. “Collectors recognized that this was not only a chance to win one of the rarest prizes in golf, but that it’s also associated with one of the greatest names to ever play.”

R.I.P. Jim Langley

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Quite possibly the nicest man who ever lived. The longtime head professional at Cypress Point, former Marine, former Cal basketball player and great golfer passed away Saturday night the 19th and would have celebrated a birthday Sunday the 20th.

Joel Zuckerman recently interviewed Jim and posted this wonderful profile of the great man.

Is ADD The New White Belt Of Golf?

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Cameron Morfit explores whether having Attention Deficit Disorder is a positive for professional golfers and while many players suspect they have ADD, many don't want to know.

The clinical characteristics of adults with ADD vary but include fidgeting, impulsivity and inattention. Those with the condition can also come off as cocky or brash, experts say, but that's because they're compensating for often feeling invisible. The ADDed Dimension, by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo, cites a 2001 study showing that people with ADD/ADHD tend to thrive in natural, outdoor and preferably green environments—yes, like golf courses. Hallowell says people with ADD crave both stimulation and structure, which is why the Navy SEALs, for example, tend to attract ADD/ADHDs.

Does that mean SEALs aficionado Tiger Woods has ADD? No. And what does it matter? Who cares whether or not Bradley, Day, Poulter, Watson and so many others on Tour have ADD/ADHD? Answer: Because a growing body of anecdotal evidence suggests that it can be a tremendous asset. "I always say it's bad for [school] teachers," Garrigus says, referring to the high rate of ADD among school-children, "but good for golfers."

And there was this from Bubba Watson:

"When you get under the gun you get hyperfocused," Watson says. "Payne Stewart got hyperfocused." (Stewart, who was diagnosed with ADD, was so hyperactive that his family used to sit in the church loft so as not to disrupt the service.)

If Louis Oosthuizen Loved Golf Like He Loves John Deere...

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The sweet-swinging South African might be number one in the world?

Just wondering after reading this Craig DeVrieze PGATour.com story about the Oosthuizen clan's visit to the John Deere factory on the eve of the John Deere Classic.

I love the passion, but this is also mildly disturbing:

Louis Oosthuizen has no need for a combine on the 150 acres where he raises cattle on the Indian Ocean coast near his parents’ farm. He is eager, however, to step into the new John Deere R450 Windrower tractor he recently ordered. It will join a 6000 Series John Deere tractor that was among the first items he purchased with his British Open winnings.

Piet Oosthuizen said his son’s love of John Deere green knows no end.

“You can ask him anything about John Deere,” the father said. “He is on the computer every day, and he knows every spec of every piece of John Deere equipment. He loves it.”

Punters Beware: Poulter Takes To Twitter For New Blade

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One of the best putters in the world has decided his putting is flat and based on his history, would benefit from a new look. So Ian Poulter took to Twitter in search of opinions, nominations and submissions for a fresh blade heading into next week's Open Championship at Muirfield. He's currently 40-1 but drifting upward with a few sites before news of his putter change.

 

 

These Guys Are Not The Brightest Files: Kris Blanks Brings Gun And Ammo To TSA Edition

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Thanks to WeiUnderPar for spotting Chris Alcantara's account of PGA Tour player Kris Blanks forgetting the loaded gun in his backpack as he went through security at Palm Beach International.

Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, Kristoffer Blanks, was on his way to catch a plane headed to Charlotte, N.C., when he entered an airport security checkpoint and placed his black backpack onto an X-ray conveyor belt.

As the bag went through screening, a Transportation Safety Administration officer found a .40-caliber Glock 27 with eight rounds in the magazine, a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report said.

Deputies responded to the airport, took Blanks’ bag and arrested him on charges of carrying a concealed weapon.

During an interview with deputies, Blanks said he forgot to take his gun out of the bag after he returned home from a road trip the week before, the report said. He added he did not have a concealed weapons permit.

But other than that, everything was kosher!

Kris hasn't mentioned the incident on his Twitter account...yet.

GMac: Castle Stuart Too Easy, Too One-Dimensional

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Shocking statements from the normally learned Graeme McDowell in justifying why he's skipping the prestigious Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart for the second year in a row.

Jim Black reports:

McDowell, speaking on the eve of the Irish Open at Carton House near Dublin, said: “The Scottish Open has lost its identity and its prestige. Castle Stuart probably has not been a strong enough golf course.

“Let’s see them get the Scottish Open on a phenomenal links golf course with a great purse and get a world-class field back.

“We need to be capitalising a little harder on the week before and after the Open.

“I feel bad singling out the Scottish Open, because I used to love it at Loch Lomond. It was a phenomenal tournament. Taking it to Castle Stuart was designed to get it on a links course the week before The Open and it’s a beautiful venue — but it is probably a little too wide open off the tee and a little one-dimensional.

“But Royal Aberdeen next year is a venue which attracts me. I’ve heard great things about it and it could re-light the event.”

McDowell finished T42 in his lone appearance at the too easy Castle Stuart, the year freak rains softened the course and reduced the tournament to 54-holes.

Phil Mickelson is returning for a third year to the Scottish Open and NBC is providing network coverage in the United States, a first for a European Tour event.

And needless to say, I didn't find the course one-dimensional last year when watching some of the best shotmaking and most interesting play I'd seen in a long time. Some photos from Saturday and Sunday.

Unfortunately, Royal Aberdeen is excessively narrow to offset modern distance and will be a bit too one-dimensional if not widened out. Oh wait, wide is bad GMac! I forgot.

More Frank Stranahan Remembrances

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The late golfing great passed away on June 23rd and we're now seeing some reports on his remarkable life in the game.

From an unbylined AP story: 

''He was my old buddy,'' Palmer said Tuesday from his office in Latrobe, Pa. ''We were pretty close for a lot of years. He always thought I would be one of his guys and do the muscle thing and all that. And of course, we played against each other a lot. He was a great guy, a good friend. He played some very good golf.''

And John Boyette takes the Augusta angle to Stranahan's life, which included a near Masters win and a brouhaha with Clifford Roberts. 

At the 1947 Masters, Stranahan closed with 68 to finish two shots behind winner Jimmy Demaret. No amateur has ever won the Masters, although Charlie Coe, Ken Venturi and Billy Joe Patton all had close calls.

The following year, Stranahan crossed paths with Roberts, Augusta National Golf Club’s stern chairman. The dustup involved a rule about playing a second ball to greens during practice rounds.

While he was still playing the second nine, Stranahan was asked to leave the course and that his invitation had been withdrawn.

Stranahan’s protests fell on deaf ears, and Roberts’ decision was final.

“So I bought a ticket, and I stayed there,” Stranahan said in a 1998 interview with Sports Illustrated.