Federal authorities have charged a former warehouse coordinator at Augusta National Golf Club for transporting and transferring millions of dollars’ worth of stolen merchandise and memorabilia, including Arnold Palmer’s green jacket, from the course in Georgia to Tampa, Florida. According to reports by cllct’s Darren Rovell, the legendary golfer’s green jacket was among the items stolen over a 13-year period.
Although federal investigators did not mention Palmer’s Green Jacket, nor did Augusta National Golf Club officials acknowledge its absence, Richard Brendan Globensky was recently charged by federal authorities for his role in the theft. It was reported that Globensky transported the items from Augusta, Georgia to Tampa, Florida, with federal officials believing he was aware that the items were stolen.
Globensky had access to the stolen merchandise and memorabilia as he supervised the Masters merchandise sold each year at Augusta National. In a 2022 FBI operation, Palmer’s missing jacket was recovered during a private sale arranged by a member of Augusta National who knew the jacket was missing. The collector, known for finding rare items, verified the jacket’s authenticity, leading to a sale for $3.6 million being arranged. However, upon leaving the seller’s house with the jacket, the buyer and collector were confronted by FBI agents who seized the jacket and questioned the sellers.
After Arnold Palmer’s passing in 2016 at the age of 87, Augusta National paid tribute to the four-time champion by placing his jacket on a chair at the course during the Masters. Palmer had multiple Green Jackets, and the one that was stolen (believed to be from his 1958 Masters victory) was not one of his actual winner’s jackets.