Sold for $5.156 million. The number staring back at you on Golden Age’s auction listing seems absurd for a set of irons — even if they were once used by the greatest golfer of the modern era. It’s nearly $5 million more than the set of Ben Hogan irons from the fabled 1953 season, which reinforces the belief that anything Tiger touches is golden.
If you were locked on the Masters and missed the news, a set of irons used by Tiger Woods to win the “Tiger Slam” sold for a mint two weeks ago at auction, shattering the previous record sale of $682,000 for Horton Smith’s green jacket from the inaugural 1934 Masters.
As you’d expect, the story behind how these irons even made it to market in the first place is equally intriguing.
On the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, the crew discusses what makes these irons so special, beyond the connection to the Tiger Slam.
Tiger’s camp has repeatedly claimed the irons aren’t legitimate, while the man who brought them to auction the first time went so far as to take a polygraph to verify their authenticity. (He wound up passing the polygraph.)
Are these irons legitimate and worth their astronomical price tag? Only one man knows for sure: Tiger Woods.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.
Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour. He can be reached at jonathan.wall@golf.com.
