Gary Player’s Legal Battle: Suing to Reclaim His Stolen $500K Claret Jug

Gary Player is headed to court to reclaim his legacy.

After multiple reports surfaced that Player’s replica Claret Jug from his 1974 Open Championship win at Royal Lytham & St. Annes was auctioned off for nearly $500,000, the nine-time major winner took to social media to clear the air and assert his rights.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Player made it clear that the sale of the cherished trophy was unauthorized and against his wishes. “Several articles have been written about the recent sale of a replica Claret Jug that I won at the 1974 Open, and I feel that it is necessary for me to correct inaccuracies contained in those articles,” Player stated. “Neither the 1974 Masters Trophy nor the 1974 Open Trophy were sold by me or by one of my companies.”

Player continued, expressing his disappointment that someone entrusted with the safekeeping of these items had instead offered them for sale without his consent. He has now engaged his legal team to address the matter and reclaim the iconic trophy that marked one of his greatest career achievements.

Golden Age Auctions’ Response

The replica Claret Jug was sold by Golden Age Auctions for $481,068 on July 29, 2024, after starting with an initial bid of $5,000. This auction marked the second time this particular replica had been sold; it previously fetched $143,030 in November 2020, alongside other trophies from Player’s illustrious career, including his 1978 Masters Trophy and his 1965 U.S. Open trophy.

The Legal and Ethical Battle Continues

Gary Player finds himself in another battle for the Claret Jug, but this time, it might take place in a courtroom instead of a golf course. Golden Age Auctions, the company behind the sale, maintains a different stance from Player. In response to his statements, Ryan Carey, President of Golden Age Auctions, claimed that Player’s company, Black Knight International, initially sold the collection of replica trophies during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic due to cash flow issues. Carey asserts that the net proceeds from the sale were paid directly to Player’s company.

“Mr. Player was well aware of those sales back in 2020, and he was aware of them when he made these contradictory statements today,” Carey told Golf Digest. “While Golden Age has the utmost respect for what Mr. Player accomplished as a golfer, his inaccurate statements are simply not acceptable under any circumstances.”

A History of Legal Disputes

This dispute is not the first time Player has taken legal action regarding memorabilia from his Hall-of-Fame career. In 2022, he filed a lawsuit against his son and former manager, Marc Player, as well as a grandson, over the sale of items that were supposed to be returned to him. Player also won a $5 million legal dispute against Marc in 2020 over unpaid royalties from the Gary Player Group.

A Legacy Worth Defending

Winners of the Open Championship are granted the honor of keeping the actual Claret Jug until the following year’s tournament, after which they receive a replica to keep forever. For Player, the Claret Jug represents not just a victory but a symbol of his enduring legacy in the sport. The South African legend’s wire-to-wire victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1974 was his third and final Open Championship win, capping off a remarkable career.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Player remains committed to reclaiming the replica that was unlawfully taken from him, ensuring that his hard-earned legacy remains intact. This latest battle in court underscores his determination to preserve the memories and achievements that have defined his extraordinary career.