Last week in Press Tent we reported the USGA’s acquisition of what appears to be the 4-wood Gene Sarazen used to jar a double-eagle en route to victory at the 1935 Masters. The club was donated by a Minnesota man who said he received it as part of his payment when he caddied for The Squire in 1939. Thing is, no one can prove it’s the actual 4-wood.

Enter Mike Bishop, the vice president of operations at Chateau Elan Golf Club outside Atlanta. When Chateau Elan hosted the Sarazen World Open in the mid-1990s, Bishop forged a relationship with Sarazen. The two grew so chummy that one April, The Squire invited Bishop to dinner at Augusta National during Masters week. As they strolled through the clubhouse, they came upon a display case housing a replica of the storied 4-wood. Bishop asked Sarazen if that was the club. 

“No,” Sarazen said. “I gave it to a guy that used to caddie for me.”

“That was his exact quote,” Bishop said today by phone. This anecdote certainly doesn't close the case, but it’s another clue indicating that the Sarazen 4-wood at USGA headquarters is indeed the history-making club. 

Thanks for the call, Mike.