One of the greatest legends of the game, Gene Sarazen is one of only five golfers who have won all of golf's modern major championships—The Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA Championship. The other four with "career grand slams" are Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Ben Hogan. Sarazen's accomplishments extend beyond his 7 major championship victories and 39 PGA Tour wins. He is credited with inventing the modern sand wedge. His double eagle at the 15th during the last round of the 1935 Masters became the "shot heard 'round the world" and put the Masters squarely on the golf map. He was the host of Shell's Wonderful World of Golf for seven years. As the oldest competitor at the 1973 British Open Championship at Royal Troon, he aced the eighth hole—"The Postage Stamp." He was the honorary starter at the Masters from 1981 to 1999. He was the Associated Press 1932 Male Athlete of the Year. In 1974 Sarazen was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame along with Bobby Jones and Sam Snead. In 1992, he was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. In 1996, the PGA Tour voted unanimously to award Sarazen with its inaugural PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award. 

When Gene Sarazen came from four back on the last day to win the 1922 US Open held at Skokie Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, he was 20 years old.  He had just started working as the head professional at the Highland Golf Club in Pittsburgh, PA. Upon his return to Pittsburgh, Highland's members celebrated Gene's victory with a huge party in his honor at the William Penn Hotel. That night Gene appeared when he burst from a paper mâché golf ball!  That must have been some night—as you can see in the last photo for this listing!

Highland's members also presented Gene with this engraved gold watch and chain to honor what was the first of what would become seven major championship victories.  The back of the case reads, "Gene Sarazen, National Golf Open Champion 1922. Presented by Highland Country Club, Pittsburgh, Score 288, 72 Holes, Skokie, IlL."

Unfortunately for but understood by Highland's members, Gene never went back to work at Highland.  Shortly after his return to Pittsburgh, he left the club's employ and joined the PGA Tour. Later that summer Sarazen won the 1922 PGA Championship. The rest is history.

The watch itself, which measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, was made by Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts. It is currently not running. I suspect that a proper cleaning by a reputable jeweler would have it running smoothly once again. The chain measures 14 1/2 inches. Gene kept this watch for his personal use. After his passing in 1999, it remained with the Sarazen family.

Accompanying this watch is a signed letter of authenticity from the Gene and Mary Sarazen Foundation.  The letter states that this watch was Gene's personal property and part of his estate.

"Gene Sarazen has been one of my heroes all my life, one of the great people in golf.  He is someone I have looked up to for what he told us about the game and all the values we would like to think are still with us in the game, and will continue with us in the future.  I have always had great respect for Gene and what he accomplished in his life.  Every golf professional should thank Gene for what he has contributed to the game.  On behalf of the game, I thank him for all he has meant to golf."  —Arnold Palmer.