Ben Hogan
Horton Smith's
1936 Masters Tournament
Left Handed "Punch Out" 3 Iron
The Inaugural Masters Champion Horton Smith has a cult following among
collectors – not unlike the allure of Honus Wagner items to the baseball
collecting community. Whenever a piece of Horton Smith memorabilia comes up for
auction, the collecting community takes notice. You likely already know about
our recent sale of Horton Smith’s Green Jacket for the highest price ever paid
for a piece of golf memorabilia - $682,299. But that’s just the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to Horton Smith memorabilia. Some other examples of recent
Horton Smith sales by Green Jacket Auctions: Horton Smith used wedge: $21,539;
Horton Smith signed golf ball: $11,000.
Horton Smith’s 1936 Masters Left Handed “Punch-Out” Club
Offered here is one of the most unique and significant golf clubs – and Masters
Tournament items – ever offered by us or any other auction house. This is Horton
Smith’s personal Bobby Jones model left handed 3 iron that is believed to have
been in his bag during his 1936 Masters Tournament victory.
You’re probably thinking to yourself “But wait, Horton Smith was right handed!”.
Yes, but in the days before the 14 golf club rule was adopted in 1938, Horton
sometimes carried a left handed “Punch-Out” club. According to family lore, this
club was a particular favorite of Horton’s to carry in his bag at Augusta
National, and this exact club saved him on more than one occasion when his ball
nestled on the right side of one of Augusta’s numerous pine trees.
This left handed Punch-Out club is being consigned directly by Horton Smith’s
heirs. This is one of only 8 golf clubs that have been passed down in the family
over the past several decades – and one of only three clubs attributed to Horton
Smith's victory in the 1936 Masters Tournament.
Letter of Provenance from Horton Smith family.