Masters Green Jacket At Center Of Dallas Lawsuit
DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - It's considered one of the greatest comebacks in golf history.
At the 1959 Masters tournament, in Augusta, Georgia, Art Wall, Jr, passed up a dozen competitors in the last six holes.
He sunk an 11 foot putt to clinch the biggest win of his life and earn an envied green jacket.
More than a decade now after Wall's death, the green jacket with his name still stitched inside is a valued possession and the center of lawsuit in Dallas County.
The Dallas-based Heritage Auctions planned to auction off the 1959 jacket this Saturday in New York.
The starting bid was set at $65,000 dollars.
The Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, however, filed a lawsuit Monday, requesting a temporary restraining order halting the sale of the jacket. A judge approved the order, which allows law enforcement in Texas to seize the jacket.
Court records filed by the club's attorney claim the jacket was in its possession until at least 2010. It claims, three employees stole Wall's jacket, along with three others it has since recovered. The club has traditionally kept possession of the jackets, not allowing them off property except for the first year after they're won.
Heritage Auctions released the following statement about the jacket:
"Yesterday the Augusta National Golf Club filed suit against Heritage Auctions over the Art Wall 1959 Green Master's jacket being offered in an upcoming sale in New York City. Prior to their filling the lawsuit, Augusta National did not contact Heritage Auctions, or Heritage's legal counsel regarding this jacket. Heritage's consignor, a well-known, and respected collector purchased the jacket in good faith last year for $61,000 at a public auction conducted by another company. To the best of our knowledge, Augusta National did not challenge that earlier auction prior to its sale last April. Had Augusta National contacted Heritage Auctions directly prior to the auction with proof that the current owner did not have good title, we would have removed it from the sale. The current owner disputes the current claim based on facts either omitted, or mischaracterized in Augusta National's lawsuit. The jacket has been removed from the sale. Heritage looks forward a final determination in this matter."
Augusta National and its attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Both parties are scheduled to be back in court next month.
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