Arnold Palmer’s Stolen Green Jacket Recovered in FBI Operation at Augusta National
Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer’s iconic green jacket, earned as a four-time Masters champion, was reportedly among the items stolen from Augusta National Golf Club over a 13-year period. The shocking revelation came to light after Richard Brendan Globensky was charged by federal authorities for transporting and transferring stolen merchandise and memorabilia from the prestigious golf club.
Globensky, a former warehouse coordinator at Augusta National, allegedly moved the stolen items from Georgia to Florida between 2009 and 2022. Among the stolen items was Palmer’s cherished green jacket, a symbol of his incredible success at the Masters tournament.
Fortunately, the stolen jacket was recovered during a 2022 FBI operation. A member of Augusta National, aware of the missing jacket, enlisted the help of a collector known for finding rare items. A private sale was arranged, with the intention of retrieving the stolen jacket under the guise of a legitimate transaction.
After verifying the authenticity of the jacket, a sale for $3.6 million was agreed upon. However, as the buyer and collector were leaving the seller’s residence, they were intercepted by FBI agents who seized the stolen item. The sellers were also questioned by federal authorities.
Arnold Palmer, who passed away in 2016, was posthumously honored by Augusta National by draping one of his green jackets on a chair at the Masters tournament. While Palmer owned several green jackets, the stolen one was believed to be from his 1958 Masters victory and was not among his actual winner’s jackets.
The recovery of Arnold Palmer’s stolen green jacket marks the end of a long and intriguing saga involving one of golf’s most beloved legends and a daring theft from one of the sport’s most hallowed grounds.