If you’ve ever wondered how much a Green Jacket might sell for, then wonder no more.
Presented to the winner of The Masters each year, it is a prize coveted by all male professional golfers but one that is reserved for players who can tame the iconic Augusta National and outlast their opponents. It's perhaps the greatest of the many perks of winning The Masters.
The first to do so was Horton Smith, who triumphed in 1934 when it was known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.
Smith reigned supreme again two years later but it wasn’t until the 1949 edition of the event when Augusta National Golf Club began the tradition of giving champions a Green Jacket.
The nine victors from 1934-1948, including Smith, were, however, given Green Jackets in recognition of their achievement.
Smith played in every Masters from its inception in 1934 until 1963, the year in which he passed away.
His jacket, a 43 long, was believed to be lost but it was put up for auction last year by a distant family member.
And it fetched a hefty sum. Nearly $700,000 in fact. Sold through Green Jacket Auctions, the winning bid of $682,229.45 is believed to be the highest price paid for an item of golf memorabilia.
It is worth mentioning that not all Green Jackets are created equal, both literally and figuratively. The first is special, even if it wasn’t handed out until 15 years later.
There are others that would certainly going to carry serious value. Green Jackets owned by Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer or Seve Ballesteros would catch astronomical fees. They will, of course, never be available to buy or go up for auction.
We may never know how much someone would pay for one of those iconic bits of golfing history, but it's likely to be in the millions.
