Thor Nordwall retired as the keeper of the “Sarazen legend”

(This entry was originally posted in this blog on Monday, December 3, 2008 and the information is based on that time.)

Remember the double albatross shot made by golf legend, Gene Sarazen, in the 1935 Masters’ Tournament? It was the 15^th par 5 and Sarazen was two shots behind the leader. Sarazen pulled out his 4 wood and made a spectacular “Double Eagle” shot. Not only he took the lead that day, but also turned himself into a living legend with that one shot. The club that Sarazen used to make the shot had become a great collectors’ item ever since. Interestingly, Sarazen gave the club to his caddy, Thor Nordwall. In 1939, Nordwall worked as a caddie for Gene Sarazen in the St. Paul Open at Keller Golf Course. Sarazen was very happy with Nordwall and along with his five day’s wage, he gave Nordwall two of his clubs and one of them was the legendary one.

Shooting a double eagle is not an easy task in golf. You can hit it but the chance is one in a zillion. Thirty two years after Sarazen made that shot, the world saw another albatross. Now, fast forward 21^st century, Thor Nordwall donated that legendary club to the U.S. Golf Association museum located in Far Hills, New Jersey on December 2, 2008.

Interestingly, Nordwall wanted to return the club to Sarazen and he wrote to him but he never got any reply. Sarazen’s family used to know that he had given the club to someone in Japan. Even Augusta National Golf Club reported to have the original golf. Nordwall was approached by many people. They offered large amount of money but he refused them all. He believed that the club belonged to a museum along with its history. Nordwall could not sleep the night before the final day, when he was supposed to hand over the club. He was worried but everything went on smoothly.

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Star Tribune.com