Augusta up in arms over jacket
The Georgia company that owns Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters golf tournament yesterday asked a judge in Atlanta to stop a golf memorabilia company from auctioning off one of its champion’s green jacket and other items it says were never supposed to have left the grounds.
Augusta National Inc. filed the federal lawsuit against Florida-based Green Jacket Auctions Inc. seeking to stop the company from selling a champion’s green jacket and two member green jackets, as well as silverware and a belt buckle bearing Augusta National’s map and flag logo.
The champion’s green jacket is awarded each year to the winner of the Masters tournament, “and is, probably, the most coveted award in the golfing world,” the lawsuit stated.
The jacket may not be removed from the Augusta National grounds except during the first year after it is presented, according to the lawsuit. After that first year, the jacket must be stored on Augusta National premises and can only be used on the grounds and during the annual tournament. Augusta National said it owns the jackets, and the champions have “possessory rights” when they’re on Augusta National grounds.
The same rules apply to the member green jackets, except they may never leave Augusta National grounds, the lawsuit says. Each jacket is marked for identification and authenticity.
“It appears that Augusta National Golf Club is attempting to assert ownership claims to every green jacket ever produced, regardless of who currently owns or possesses the jackets,” Green Jacket Auctions coowner Ryan Carey said in an email. “Obviously we at Green Jacket Auctions dispute such claims, and will litigate the matter, if necessary.”
Yesterday, the online bidding on the champion’s jacket, which closes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, had reached $114,874.
Green Jacket Auctions’ website says the company has previously auctioned off three green jackets that had been given to champions. It sold a coat belonging to Horton Smith, the first winner of the Masters, for about $682,000 in 2013.