PALMER, NICKLAUS, PLAYER & 5 MORE SIGNED 1976 MASTERS PAIRING LIST 1 OF A KIND

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DURING THE 1960'S THROUGH 1979, I WAS AN EXECUTIVE FOR THE PINKERTON AGENCY, WHICH FOR DECADES HAD THE SECURITY CONTRACT FOR THE MASTERS AND MANY OTHER GOLF TOURNAMENTS. OUR HEAD OF GOLF SECURITY WAS A CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT OF PINKERTON'S WHO WORKED AT EVERY TOURNAMENT AND PERSONALLY KNEW NEARLY EVERY PGA GOLFER ON TOUR. I,IN 1976, WAS DISTRICT MANAGER OF THE CHICAGO OFFICE OF PINKERTON'S, AND WE WERE BECOMING INVOLVED AT THAT TIME WITH PROVIDING GOLF SECURITY FOR THE WESTERN OPEN; AND WE ALREADY WERE PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE CHICAGO CUBS AND MANY OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS OF ALL TYPES.
I WAS ASKED BY OUR COMPANY TO GO TO THE MASTERS IN 1976, WHERE WE ALWAYS EMPLOYED SCORES OF SECURITY OFFICERS, TO ASSIST WITH SECURITY, PROVIDE PERSONAL PROTECTION FOR TWO SPECIFIC GOLFERS AWAY FROM THE COURSE IN THE EVENINGS, AND LEARN FROM OUR VP IN CHARGE. WHILE WORKING WITH HIM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLUB HOUSE, THE PRESS TENT, AND MORE, AND MEET MANY, MANY GOLFERS ON TOUR AND WHO WERE PLAYING IN THE 1976 MASTERS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ALL 8 OF THE GOLFERS WHO SIGNED THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1976 PAIRINGS AND STARTING TIME SHEET.  EACH SIGNATURE WAS PERSONALLY OBTAINED IN MY PRESENCE.  I HAVE NEVER BOTHERED TO HAVE THIS SHEET PROFESSIONALLY AUTHENTICATED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE MEN SIGNED IN FRONT OF ME.  EACH SIGNATURE WAS OBTAINED IN THE LOCKER ROOM OF THE AUGUSTA CLUB HOUSE, AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR OUR COMPANY'S HEAD OF SECURITY, THE SIGNATURES WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN, AS HE PERSONALLY ASKED EACH INDIVIDUAL TO SIGN THE PAIRINGS SHEET FOR ME.
AS I HAD THE SHEET FOLDED INTO QUARTERS TO STICK IN THE POCKET OF MY SUIT COAT ( YES, WE HAD TO WEAR A SUIT AND TIE AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHILE WALKING THE ROPES NEXT tO THE FAIRWAYS ), THERE ARE 2 LITE CREASES GOING ACROSS BOTH THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL PLANE OF THE PAPER. IT IS MOUNTED ON A WALNUT PLAQUE AND COVERED WITH CLEAR ACRYLIC. THE REAR OF THE WOOD PLAQUE HAS A SMALL CHIP MISSING THAT DOES NOT AFFECT THE HANGING OF THE PIECE.  IT HAS BEEN HANGING ON MY WALL FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND THE INK SIGNATURES ARE STILL BOLD.  THE SIGNEES ARE : RAY FLOYD, THE WINNER THAT YEAR, WHO ALSO TIED THE COURSE RECORD; GARY PLAYER, JACK NICKLAUS, ARNOLD PALMER, ART WALL, AL GEIBERGER, BEN CRENSHAW, AND CHARLES COODY.  NICKLAUS, PLAYER, PALMER, FLOYD, AND CRENSHAW, ALL SIGNED ON ONE MASTERS PAIRINGS SHEET, SPECIFICALLY DATED, IS A RARE, RARE, ITEM.  I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND ITEM IN THE HISTORY OF GOLF.