John Daly’s 1995 Open Championship Claret Jug is up for auction at Golden Age Auctions, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of golf history. The trophy, which Daly won after defeating Costantino Rocca in a four-hole playoff at St. Andrews, has a current bid of $152,463 with just days remaining. The jug is being sold by a consignor who purchased it directly from Daly in 2015 and comes with a signed letter of authenticity.

The 50% scale sterling silver Claret Jug stands 12 ¼” tall and is housed in a magnificent case embossed with the R&A logo. This auction follows Golden Age Golf Auctions’ earlier sale of Gary Player’s 1974 Claret Jug for $481,068. With 66 bids already placed, interest in Daly’s trophy remains high. The auction’s outcome will determine who gets to claim this iconic piece of golf memorabilia.

As of Thursday morning, John Daly’s 1995 Open Championship Claret Jug had garnered significant attention with 66 bids placed, demonstrating strong interest in the trophy. According to Golf Digest’s senior writer Alex Mayer, the auction has now concluded, with the iconic trophy fetching $392,000. Daly’s decision to sell the trophy in 2015 may now be a source of regret, but the new owner will soon claim this prized and iconic piece of golf memorabilia, forever linking them to Daly’s historic victory at St. Andrews. “John Daly’s claret jug from winning the 1995 Open winds up fetching nearly $400K at auction. Daly sold it back in 2015, but might be regretting that decision now”, read the post.

Surprisingly, the trophy’s selling price dwarfs the golfer’s 2024 golf earnings. Daly’s prize money this season totaled $54,912, accumulated through various tournaments, including the Ascension Charity Classic where he won $2,730; the Ally Challenge, $3,960, and the American Family Insurance Championship where he received a decent check of $23,093. But Daly isn’t the only golfer who has had his Claret Jug sold, well technically.

Gary Player’s stolen Claret Jug sold without his knowledge

Gary Player, the legendary golfer, has been left reeling after a replica of his 1974 Open Championship Claret Jug was sold at auction without his knowledge or consent. The trophy fetched a whopping $481,068 at a Golden Age auction sale on July 28, 2024. Player was understandably upset, issued a statement expressing his displeasure, and took swift legal action against the auction site.

Golden Age Auctions defended their actions, claiming that Player’s company had financial struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic and sold some replica trophies to meet payroll. They alleged that Player was aware of the sales in 2020. However, Player countered that he did not know about the sales, including the 2021 sale of his 1974 Masters Tournament Trophy for $523,000. The incident has left a sour taste, highlighting the importance of protecting athletes’ intellectual property and memorabilia.