We found it!

Our multi-year search paid off when we finally located one of golf's modern grails - the actual PSA Type 1 photograph of the image used for Tiger Woods' Upper Deck rookie card.

Type 1 photographs of "Rookie Card" images are among the most important modern sports collectibles. The Type 1 photographs of the images used for Mickey Mantle's 1952 Topps and 1951 Bowman rookie cards have reportedly sold for $1 million each. Other top Type 1 photo sales include the image used for Joe Namath's rookie card, which sold for $400,000, and the one for Jackie Robinson's rookie card for $360,000. 

Tiger Woods' 2001 Upper Deck Golf #1 card is unquestionably the most famous golf card ever produced. But - until now - an original Type 1 photograph of Tiger's rookie card had never surfaced. In fact, many believed that a Type 1 photo may not exist at all, as the photo was captured around the time of the switch towards digital photography.

 The image used for the card was taken by photographer Robert Beck during Tiger's legendary playoff victory over Bob May at the 2000 PGA Championship (the 3rd leg of the Tiger Slam). Beck perfectly captured Tiger's iconic finger point as he sunk a 25 foot putt on the 1st playoff hole en route to victory. 

 We sent this photo to PSA, which confirmed that this was indeed the Type 1 original photo that the golf world had been searching for. PSA added to its Letter of Authenticity: "Image used for Woods' 2001 Upper Deck Golf card #1." 

16" x 20".

Letter of Authenticity from PSA

**UPDATE** We spoke with PSA's photography expert (and inventor of the "Type" system) Henry Yee, who confirmed that this is the only Type 1 original of Tiger's "Rookie Card" image that they've ever seen or authenticated