Rory McIlroy’s U.S. Open-clinching shirt sells for record $146k

Rory Mcllroy’s match-used shirt from the final round of the 2011 U.S. Open, during which he won his first career major tournament, sold for $146,050 at Sotheby’s on Thursday night, making it the most valuable golf shirt of all-time.

The hammer price edged out Tiger Woods’ “Sunday Red” shirt from the 2010 Masters, which sold for nearly $140,000 in 2022.

Mcllroy’s victory at Congressional Country Club was a dominant one, finishing with a U.S. Open record 268 (-16).

The win came at just 22 years old for the phenom from Northern Ireland, and he followed it up with three more major victories over the next three years. He famously broke through at August National for his first Masters title earlier this year.

The shirt is signed and inscribed by Mcllroy, “To Francois The first of many! AP forever!”

The Francois referenced might be Francois-Henry Bennahmias, the chief executive of Audemars Piguet, which was a sponsor of Mcllroy at the time.

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Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.