A silver-gilt replica of the Ryder Cup gifted to Aberdeen golfer Harry Bannerman was sold for £11,250 at auction in Edinburgh yesterday.
It was bought by a Scottish collector bidding online at the Bonham’s Sporting Sale.
The trophy attracted bids from golf fans on both sides of the Atlantic and exceeded expectations that it would raise between £5000 and £8000.
Mr Bannerman, 72, decided to auction off the trophy presented to him following his participation in the Ryder Cup in USA in 1971.
Speaking of the difficult decision before the sale he said: “To be honest, the real reason that this trophy is going under the hammer is that I don’t know what else to do with it. I can’t exactly have it cut into three pieces and divide it among my children.
“I thought the best way was to get the money for it and share it out instead. I know some will presume I’m doing this because I’m skint, but that couldn’t be further from the truth”.
Mr Bannerman was one of three Scots to perform in the 19th Ryder cup that year in Missouri, where he faced golfing greats Gardner Dickinson and Arnold Palmer. He was 29 when he took part in this tournament and his career was cut short soon after because of a back injury.
Henry Baggott of Bonham’s said yesterday: “The sale was a great success. This was the highest sale of a golf item this year in Britain.
“This is because of Scotland’s golf heritage and because the Ryder Cup was held in Scotland this year and of course because Bannerman himself is a Scottish golfer.”