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Lot # 1385: 1997 Tiger Woods Flight Worn Thunderbirds "VIP" USAF Flight Suit (Photo Provenance)

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2022",
which ran from 5/20/2022 7:00 PM to
6/11/2022 10:00 PM



USAF flight suit attributed to Thunderbirds "VIP" Tiger Woods with a great backstory. This appears to be the suit worn by Tiger on October 20, 1997, in Las Vegas, where he was on hand for the Las Vegas Invitational. Size 40L and laundering tags are inside collar, and "ADS OK is written on one tag. Colorful Thunderbirds patch is on the right sleeve, Air Combat Command patch is on right breast, Thunderbirds VIP tag on left breast (where name plate would be), and 57th Wing patch on left sleeve; all patches are secured with velcro, not sewn on. With his father having served in the Green Berets and having jumped from planes, Tiger noted that he was always interested in flying and acquitted himself quite nicely on that flight, according to pilot Major Randy Lane. Though a bit shaken from the experience of traveling at up to 9Gs in the F-16 jet, Woods showed his trademark steely confidence, even getting to pilot himself for a period of time. Some discoloration is evident on the left front from previous display, and there is a small hole in the seat, likely also from display. While we don't have provenance on this item, we are able to photo-match it to an identical-looking suit being worn by Tiger outside the jet. Being named the Tour's Rookie of the Year in '96, the sky was indeed the limit for Woods, and this piece offers a unique slice of that majestic career.

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