Billy Casper’s 1958 Havana Open Invitational
Winner's Gold Medal
  BILLY CASPER COLLECTION

Billy Casper was one of the all-time greats. During his career, he won an astonishing 51 times on the PGA Tour, the 7^th most in history. That is more than Walter Hagen, Phil Mickelson, Gene Sarazen, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Gary Player. It is no wonder that despite those 51 victories, including 3 Majors, golf historians still consider Casper perhaps the most underrated golfer ever.

We can all agree that Billy Casper was a great golfer; but let’s be clear on one thing – he was an even better person. Though we don’t usually do this, let us share a little info on our business dealings with Billy before he passed away. Billy Casper first reached out to us in early 2014 about what to do with his collection. When we promised him a sizable six figure cash advance, he told us to come visit him – and to bring our checkbook. We then flew out to Utah to meet with Billy, his wife Shirley, and several of his children. After agreeing to a plan for Casper’s collection, we pulled out that checkbook to write one of our largest checks ever…and Billy Casper told us to give the entire amount to charity.

Like we said, Billy Casper was a great golfer; but he was an even better person. Rest in peace, Billy.

Billy Casper’s 1958 Havana Open Invitational Gold Medal Winner's Gold Medal

In this auction, we have the extreme pleasure of auctioning the actual Winner's Gold Medals awarded to Billy Casper for his victories on the PGA Tour. For obvious reasons, Winner's Gold Medals make it to the collector market very infrequently. And never before in history have so many important medals from such a legendary player been offered.

As we all know, Billy Casper won 51 times on the PGA Tour. But did you know that's a lie, and we have the original gold medal to prove it?

Presented in this lot is Billy Casper's original 1958 Havana Open Invitational Winner's Gold Medal. This is the original gold medal that was awarded to Casper for what should be his 7th of 52 total PGA Tour victories. The Havana Open Invitational in Cuba was a popular spot on the PGA Tour in the 1950s. But Fidel Castro and his band of guerillas changed everything. When the 1958 Havana Open was played, tensions were high. Frank Stranahan - who came from a very wealthy family - did not make the trip due to fears of kidnapping. Billy Casper not only participated, he won the tournament. Said Casper: "The $2,4000 I collected for first place was one of the island's last acts of capitalism." Though no honest explanation was ever given, after Castro took power and anti-Communist sentiment raged, the PGA Tour erased the Havana Open Invitational from the record books. So how did Billy Casper feel about the PGA Tour acting like he didn't win an official PGA Tour event which he so clearly did? "All I know for sure is that to this day I remain the defending champion of the Havana Open."

The PGA Tour can claim that the Havana Open wasn't an official PGA Tournament, but offered here is the original gold medal awarded to Billy Casper for his PGA Tour victory in that event. This gold medal measures 1 1/2" in diameter and is made of 14k gold.