Sam Snead tournament driver to exceed $1m in Heritage golf sale?

A driver used by legendary golfer Sam Snead in some of his most important victories is offered at Heritage Auctions with an opening bid of $250,000.

It's estimated to exceed $1m.

Sam Snead driver
Snead bought the driver from fellow golfer Henry Picard in 1936

The lot is featured in the Sports Collectibles Golf Catalogue Auction in Dallas on September 25-26.

Snead (1912-2002) racked up an astonishing 82 PGA tour wins over the course of his career and is considered one of the greatest players of all time.

He relates the story of how he came to acquire the club in a 1989 letter of provenance: "In 1936 I was signed with Dunlop, along with Henry Pickard (sic). We were at a tournament on the practice tee when I spotted this driver in Pickard's bag.

"I took it out and tried it and felt it and really liked it. Pickard said I could have it because it was too big for him. Pickard said that a club maker for Wilson by the name of Gansky made it...

"Pickard said that he had paid $5.25 for it. I paid him that amount and took it with me.

"I proceeded to win over 100 tournaments, including two Masters, one British Open and two P.G.A. Championships with this driver.

"I also won many long distance driving contests with it. A few years after buying the driver, Pickard wanted to buy it back, and I said I wouldn't sell it for a million!"

Snead's trophy for the 1946 Open Championship made $263,000 at Heritage Auctions in August last year.

We have this autographed golf cap from Jack Nicklaus.

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