Posted on 04/08/2012 7:52:43 PM PDT by T-Bird45
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The golf ball sat at the bottom of the left pocket of Wayne Mitchell's green cargo shorts.
"I've got a zip on it," Mitchell said of the zipper pulled tight across the pants leg.
He might have considered a safety deposit box.
Mitchell owned -- for a few hours, at least -- one of the most famous golf balls in Masters history. He got it Sunday afternoon after Louis Oosthuizen double-eagled the par-5 2nd hole, pulled the Titleist from the cup and, incredibly, underhand-tossed it toward the patrons seated behind the green.
It landed in the hands of Mitchell, a 59-year old from New Tripoli, Pa., who was making his fifth trip to the tournament.
"Actually, the biggest fear I had was that I was going to drop it," Mitchell said before eventually returning the ball to Augusta National officials later in the afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
/johnny
I’m with ya. It’s a f’n golf ball, not autographed.
You know what my feeling about it is? Not my property, return it. I'm stupid that way too. My honesty is far more precious to me.
I’m confused. Why would he give it back? It was given to him. Or was it thrown accidentally?
Quite a contrast to a landmark home run.
The player just wanted the fans to fondle his...... I'll stop there while I'm not banned.
/johnny
He tossed it to the gallery after taking it from the hole.
It was a classy thing to do. He didn’t have to give the ball back. The golf museum has a new addition and this lucky guy probably has free tickets to next years Masters.
“Not my property, return it. I’m stupid that way.”
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I am a bit confused.
Did the golfer not toss the ball to the crowd for some lucky
person to catch it?
If that is the case, the catcher becomes the new owner
of the ball, and is under no ethical, moral, or legal
reason to return the ball, or give it to anyone.
Am I missing something here?
If the tradition is for the club to have the ball, why would it have been tossed to the crowd?
You are assuming an implied contract that may not actually exist.
I can toss you something, and it still remains my property.
But, in your case, I probably wouldn't. Even if it was a life vest.
/johnny
In sports it is implied that if a player tosses a ball or piece of equipment into the stads or gallery he is surrending ownership of it. Also as a golfer provides his own equipment Augusta Natioal or the PGA cannot claim ownership of the item.
“But, in your case, I probably wouldn’t. Even if it was a life vest.”
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You don’t have to get all snotty about it.
I was just asking a simple question for clarification, which, of course, you did not answer.
If anyone is a fault, it appears to be the golfer himself.
It was a selfless act by Oosthuizen even more selfless act by Mitchell.
The golfer out of excitement threw the ball to the crowd, releasing ownership at that point.
The excited fan who caught it, excited as well to receive the ball.
No one at that point has any obligation to each other.
The Club has no ownership as well.
However: this being a historic ball, the fan determined that it should be returned, as is a good thing. Without it being autographed or somehow labeled in some way. It would be worthless now or down the road. No way to prove it.
The fan did the best thing, that is what good golfers and fans do. It's a gentlemans honor thing.
It was a nice gesture to return the ball, but there’s no doubt whatsoever that the ball belonged to the spectator.
It was given away by the golfer.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wayne Mitchell retained ownership if the golf ball, but simply offered it to the Agusta National’s museum on permanent loan.
Ebay baby....
/johnny’s smarmy post has made me realize I’m a long-time thief!
For years I’ve gone to the Christmas parade, and when the people on the floats throw candy into the crowd, I catch it and eat it. I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never chased them down the street through the crowd to try to give it back... Shame on me! Look upon my shame!
I'm with you on this one too......besides, I would have just sliced it into the woods on the very first tee the next day anyway.
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