1923 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP EARLIEST KNOWN TOURNAMENT TICKET WITH ENVELOPE FROM JOHN WANAMAKER. SARAZEN BEATS HAGEN

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/6/2021

We are very excited to offer this very rare Tournament Ticket(The oldest known PGA Tournament Ticket) from the 1923 PGA Championship held in Pelham CC, New York. The ticket is issued to Members' Family and enclosed in original envelope with stamped "John Wanamaker, Philadelphia". Ticket is in very good condition with original string attached. Gene Sarazen won the championship over Walter Hagen. Early in 1916, Rodman Wanamaker, a sportsman and heir to a New York department store empire, summoned some friends including prominent golfers like Francis Ouimet and Walter Hagen to discuss the formation of a national organization for professional golfers. At the time, professional golfers were still considered hired help, and Wanamaker wanted to change that. His 1916 meeting resulted in the formation of The PGA of America, which would host a professional only tournament. Wanamaker put up $2,500 of his own money for the prize fund, and ordered a silver cup to be played for. A man with his vision demanded a great trophy, and so the Wanamaker Trophy was born.