John Daly’s Claret Jug sold at a high price

In an auction bringing together many objects that have marked the history of golf, the Claret Jug won in 1995 by John Daly was sold for several hundred thousand dollars.

29 years ago, John Daly won his unique British Open after a long four-hole play-off against the Italian Costantino Rocca. The American had left St Andrews with a check for 125,000 pounds. If he was able to keep the Claret Jug original for a year, he was given a replica of the famous trophy afterwards.

But the sulphurous Californian decided to sell his replica, although full of history, in 2015 to a consignor. The latter finally sold it in an exceptional auction.

Nearly $400,000

Priced at $500 (€472) on November 7, the replica of John Daly was finally sold for $392,181 (€370,290) this Sunday after 73 bids. This is three times more than the prize money won by Daly during his victory over the Old Course.

The announcement of the Claret Jug of Daly stated the following: “This player’s trophy is made of sterling silver and measures 12 1/4″ (31 cm) high (50% of the scale of the permanent Claret Jug). The magnificent box measures 14 1/4″ (36 cm) x 8 ½ (22 cm)”, and its silk-lined interior bears the R&A logo embossed. Everything is accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by John Daly himself.

For comparison, the jug of Gary Player dating from 1974 and representing his victory in Royal Lytham has sold in the past for more than $480,000 (€453,206). At the time, Gary Player had filed a lawsuit, claiming the sale had been arranged without its authorization.

$85,000 for a ball and glove

Elsewhere in the sale, the silver medal obtained by Rocco Mediate during his epic defeat in the play-off of theUS Open 2008 against Tiger Woods sold for $52,995 (€50,037). Mediate himself auctioned the medal obtained during this 18-hole match.

The ball and glove used by Jack Nicklaus during his victory at Augusta in 1972 were sold for $85,350 (€80,585).

©The Open