The International Federation of PGA
Tours announced Thursday that the winner of the World Golf Championships -- American
Express Championship will be presented the first Gene Sarazen Cup.
TheGeneSarazenCupwill be presented at the closing ceremonies Sunday
(Nov.7) at Valderrama Golf Club in Andalucia, Spain, the site of the inaugural
American Express Championship.
TheGeneSarazenCupandthetrophiesforthefirst two World Golf
Championshipsheldearlierthis year, were designed and produced by Wedgwood,
England,a sister company of Waterford Crystal.American Jeff Maggert received
theWalterHagenCupforwinningtheWorldGolf Championships -- Andersen
ConsultingMatchPlay Championship in February, and countryman Tiger Woods was
awardedtheGaryPlayerCupas winner of the World Golf Championships -- NEC
Invitational in August.
GeneSarazen,a1974WorldGolf Hall of Fame inductee, won seven major
championships,thefirst of which came in the 1922 U.S. Open at the age of 20.
Shortlythereafter, he won the U.S. PGA Championship, becoming the first player
towintwomajorsin the same year.He added two more U.S. PGAs in 1923 and
1933,anotherU.S.Openand an Open Championship in 1932, and the Masters in
1935.
Itwasatthat Masters, then known as the Augusta National Invitational,
Sarazenauthoredoneofthemostfamousshotsingolf history, holing a
four-woodshotfrom235yardsonAugustaNational'spar-five15th for a
double-eagle(albatross)two.It spurred him to eventual victory and made him
thefirstplayer to win all four of what would be known as golf's professional
majors.He would later be joined by Player, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.
TheSquire,ashewas known, played in six Ryder Cups.One of golf's
most cherished heroes, Gene Sarazen died this summer at the age of 97.
TheGeneSarazenCupwillbeofficiallyunveiled on the first tee at
Valderrama approximately 30 minutes prior to the first starting time on Thursday
morning.
