Two days after Scottie Scheffler won his second title at the 2024 Masters Tournament, an ex-employee at Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the prestigious event, was charged with stealing millions of dollars’ worth of branded merchandise and memorabilia and transporting it across state lines.
The federal government has accused Richard Brendan Globensky, a former warehouse coordinator at the private club, of transporting the stolen goods from Augusta, Georgia, to Tampa, Florida, for resale from 2009 until about 2022, The Chicago Tribune reported.
- Although court documents didn’t specify what items were stolen, Arnold Palmer’s Green Jacket, one of the most valuable pieces of golf merchandise, was among them, cllct reported.
The Justice Department requests that Globensky forfeit “any property which constitutes and is derived from proceeds traceable to the offense, including a personal money judgment.”
- His arraignment and guilty plea hearing is set for May 15 in federal court in Illinois, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Masters Merch Frenzy
The Masters isn’t just the first major golf tournament of the calendar year – it’s the merch mecca for the sport’s fans.
I asked a volunteer what’s the most amount they’ve seen *one* person spend in the Masters Shop.
The answer: $30,000
Thirty thousand dollars spent on Masters merch… pic.twitter.com/kraAIrkqwF
— Tim Reilly (@LifeOfTimReilly) April 9, 2024
Because official Masters swag is sold exclusively on-site during the tournament, tens of thousands of attendees line up to enter the brick-and-mortar shop to buy branded polos, T-shirts, hats, magnets, flags, can coolers, cups and much more.
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The hottest item this year, as is becoming tradition at the tournament, was the garden gnome decked out in a logoed bucket hat, logoed cardigan sweater and plaid pants, which reportedly sold out within minutes.
- In 2022, the Masters generated $69 million in merchandise sales during the week of the tournament, Forbes reported.
Because cellphones are banned at Augusta National, the only way to see what kind of merch was available at the shop is when customers share their purchases on social media. In fact, Masters merch hauls have gone viral, with one user showing off her purchases and racking up more than 700,000 views on TikTok.
@vfmeadows I had fomo!! #mastershaul #mastersmerchandise #masterstournament ♬ original sound – Tori
