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Masters green jacket sells for six figures at auction

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jack Nicklaus has six. Tiger Woods four. Phil Mickelson three, and maybe another come tomorrow. And you could have owned your very own Augusta National green jacket … if you had an extra $139,000 lying around

The now infamous “Thrift Store” green jacket was up for auction, until 8 p.m. ET Saturday. In the final 15 minutes, the bidding went from $48,841 to the winning bid of $139,349.

For that money, it better be a legit Augusta National jacket, which it is and it comes with a hell of a story.

As legend has it, the jacket was discovered in 1994 at a Toronto thrift store, where it was selling for $5. According to Greenjacketauctions.com, where the auction is taking place, a golf fan noticed the jacket and it’s telltale Masters logo on the left-breast pocket and knew exactly what it was.

But is it a real Augusta green jacket and, if so, whose was it?

The answer is yes, it’s real. In fact, Augusta National confirmed its authenticity, but didn’t offer any more information beyond that. The name-tag has been torn out, but some crack detective work (analysis of the liner) dates the jacket to the early 1950s.

Bidding for the jacket started at $5,000. There were 35 total bids, most coming in the final moment of the auction for a one-of-a-kind piece of the most exclusive golf club in America.

More Masters coverage from Yahoo Sports:
Jordan Spieth re-creates Phil Mickelson’s miracle shot
Ranking possible Masters championship scenarios
Masters green jacket up for auction, and it isn’t cheap
Jay Hart: Will the Golf Gods finally smile upon Sergio Garcia?