1920 Jock Hutchison Memorabilia presented in a PGA Championship-themed PGA REACH Collection Auction

The first PGA Championship is nearing at Bethpage Black, and no better opportunity to dust off the pages to remember Jock Hutchison — the 1920 PGA Champion who was largely forgotten by his achievements until he was thrust back into the spotlight nearly a generation later to share honorary starter duties from 1963-72 at The Masters.

Hutchison’s PGA Champion plaque, presented to him 20 years after the fact, is one of several rare items highlighting the third cycle of the PGA REACH Collection featured through May 19 on The Golf Auction.

Managed through The Golf Auction (TGA) of Tampa, Florida, all proceeds will benefit the initiatives of PGA Foundation Inc., d/b/a PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America.

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Born Jack Fowler “Jock” Hutchison in St. Andrews, Scotland, he stood 5-foot-8 and possessed a nervy, fidgety three-piece swing. But, once at the hitting zone, Jock finished like a maestro. In 1916, Hutchison lost the inaugural PGA Championship, 1 up, to Englishman Jim Barnes, who was his competitive rival for over a decade. That same year, Hutchison was runner-up to Chick Evans in the U.S. Open.

In 1920, Hutchison broke through his major “funk” by defeating James Douglas Edgar, 1 up, after a thrilling 36-hole finale in the PGA Championship at Flossmoor Country Club near Chicago.

On year later, Hutchison was the subject of a wave of resentment boosted by British media for having the audacity to emigrate to America in the 1900s, earn his U.S. citizenship and then return to his hometown and win the Claret Jug on the Old Course. That media perception carried over to the U.S., where America didn’t get a “home-grown” Yankee to win the Open Championship until Walter Hagen in 1922.

Hutchison went on to win 19 worldwide titles, and after turning 50, captured the inaugural Senior PGA Championship in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club. He added another Senior PGA title in 1947. Hutchison slipped into the mist of golf history from there, and didn’t officially receive his overdue acclaim until 2011 when he was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

More about the PGA REACH Collection auction:

Managed through The Golf Auction (TGA) of Tampa, Florida, all proceeds will benefit the initiatives of PGA Foundation Inc., d/b/a PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America.

Highlighted items in the collection include:

• Two-time PGA Champion Rory McIlroy - Autographed TaylorMade special edition PGA Jr. League golf bag
• A humidor – a gift by Tiger Woods at the 2001 PGA Champions Dinner
• A signed pin flag from The Ocean Course by 2012 PGA Champion Rory McIlroy
• A vintage Bethpage Black Course wooden “Warning” sign
• Padraig Harrington’s 2009 Champions Dinner gift – an Irish drum and drumstick
• 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk’s Team USA Tour bag
• 1941 PGA Championship contestant badge
• John Mahaffey’s 1979 PGA Champions Dinner gift - a leather jewelry/trinket box

Public bidding is available by visiting http://thegolfauction.com/catalog.aspx. All items sold in the PGA REACH Collection will be accompanied by a letter of provenance.

Interested bidders will be able to review images and online descriptions in a presentation by TGA, by visiting http://thegolfauction.com/catalog.aspx.

All winning bids for auction items will be deemed to be at fair market value. As a result, none of the items are eligible for a charitable tax deduction and no acknowledgement letters will be provided.

About PGA REACH

PGA Foundation Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH, is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA REACH positively impacts the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf.

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