Tiger Woods’ connection to his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter is properly documented. Outdoors of the 1997 Masters, the remaining 14 main titles on his resume have been gained with a putter that’s presently riddled with dings and encompasses a distinguished put on spot in the midst of the face from decades of use.
To many gearheads, it’s merely often known as the “Elder Wand” — a magical putter that may doubtless fetch greater than $10 million if it ever hit the public sale block. The possibilities of that taking place are nearly as good as a 15-handicap profitable the Masters, however that hasn’t stopped backup variations of Woods’ well-known putter from hitting the open market lately.
This features a carbon copy of Woods’ gamer — minus the initials on the toe — that offered for practically $400k in 2021. On the time, it was probably the most cash a Woods backup putter had ever fetched, however that might be altering within the not-too-distant future.
Golden Age
In keeping with golf public sale home Golden Age, a new Woods backup (dubbed the “Secret Gamer”) with an enchanting backstory has the potential to go for large cash as a result of one vital distinction.
The Newport 2 GSS currently on the auction block used to belong to a Scotty Cameron distributor by the title of Rand Pallis — the putter has since modified arms privately on a number of events over time — who reportedly acquired the putter straight from Cameron himself years in the past.
Return and take a look at earlier Woods backups and also you’ll discover all of them include a certificates of authenticity from Cameron stating the putter was “Made for Tiger Woods.” It’s a distinction solely a handful of Cameron putters on this planet can boast of getting.
Golden Age
However right here’s the place issues get attention-grabbing with this specific putter. (Earlier than we proceed, it’s vital to notice Golden Age was by no means in a position to substantiate the claims, so take all the pieces with a grain of salt.)
“Because the (admittedly unconfirmed) story that follows this putter goes, Tiger Woods as soon as, throughout a second of frustration, brought on injury to his well-known crimson dot gamer,” the public sale home states. “The putter was rushed to Scotty Cameron to carry out the required repairs. In the course of the few days it was out of Tiger’s possession, he was compelled to place one other crimson dot putter into play — supposedly the very crimson dot putter supplied on this public sale.”
So how would anybody be capable to inform this putter other than different Woods backups? Check out the COA. When Pallis got here into possession of the putter, he despatched it again to Cameron for an official COA, in 2015, which ultimately arrived with an sudden callout.
Golden Age
“The COA got here again with the curious (and vital) description of Tiger Woods’ ‘Very uncommon precise backup putter.’ Scotty Cameron intentionally selected to point that this was no unusual backup putter made for Tiger Woods, however as a substitute was Tiger’s precise backup putter. If true, this putter could at some point develop into the primary Scotty Cameron putter to eclipse the $1 million mark.”
One take a look at the putter and it’s straightforward to see the backup shares many traits with Woods’ gamer, together with a blacked-out Ping PP58 grip and the unmistakable tri-sole design. One Cameron collector advised Golden Age founder Ryan Carey that “7 or so real Tiger crimson dot backups” exist on the planet. However that is the one one carrying the “Very uncommon precise backup putter” distinction.
Much like the set of photo-matched Titleist irons and wedges from the “Tiger Slam” that sold for over $5 million, this putter possesses a mystique that’ll certainly hook a variety of prepared bidders.
Cameron hasn’t come forth to substantiate if the story is respectable, but when he’s placing the phrases “Very uncommon precise backup putter” on a COA, it’s protected to imagine this isn’t your commonplace Woods wand. We’ll have to attend two weeks to see if these phrases assist the putter break one other Woods backup file.
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