Meanwhile, we will continue to ag- gressively protect our history and trademarks while remaining diligent pursuing all our rights to recover all items that were sold, purchased or are being held by unscrupulous means. When Globensky was first appre- hended, he was led to believe that “In- dividual 1” was the government’s bigger target. By handing over hundreds of pages of communications, recording phone calls, regularly meeting with the FBI without his attorney and arranging an in-person transaction with Matheny in which he wore a wire, Globensky hoped to avoid prison time entirely. In this same “controlled transaction,” Globensky recovered a 1934 Augusta National stock book Matheny had been holding. But to his and his attorney’s dismay, Matheny was not apprehended on the drive back to Florida for reasons unclear. The next time the FBI spoke with Matheny, he had legal representation. “While Mr. Globensky’s coopera- tion has not resulted in any arrests or charges of the individuals and busi- nesses that he worked with, his efforts demonstrate an acceptance of respon- sibility beyond simply pleading guilty,” Church wrote in the sentencing memo and asserted that the scrutiny “Indi- vidual 1 and Business 1” are now under has likely prevented further transac- tions and initiated the unwinding of others. Also included in the memo were 15 letters from Globensky’s fam- ily and friends that extolled his every- man virtues (welcoming hurricane evacuees into his home, volunteering to keep score for his middle son’s base- ball team) and hinted at the sentence already begun (the bullying of his chil- dren, the struggle to keep a marriage intact while living at his mother-in- law’s). The family of five did relocate to a three-bedroom apartment, and the day he was sentenced happened to be the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary. “I deeply regret the decision that led me
to this moment,” Globensky told US District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman moments before her ruling. The generous demeanour and remorse of a man who systematically stole for more than a decade and lived above his means is worth only so much. Because of his escalating greed, the game’s collective soul risks being diminished. It’s not as bad as the criminals who, also a little more than a decade ago, irrevocably melted the USGA’s US Amateur trophy and Yogi Berra’s World Series rings for gold and silver, yet – and this is where we get philosophical again – if the items Globensky took never resurface and future Masters patrons are denied the emotional force of their exhibit, aren’t they just as gone? The questions persist. Where is Gene Sarazen’s green jacket? Are other important memorabilia pieces missing? Why are MMO and The Golf Auction still in business, and why hasn’t anyone else involved been charged? This story does not have an ending. Palmer’s green jacket is back, as is Hogan’s after its buyer promptly turned it in after being notified it was stolen. The investigation is ongo- ing, and with a mind towards protecting potential scenarios for recovering the still-at-large golf treasures, Golf Digest has excluded certain names and details above. But there are two more things we can say. Augusta National now has a new and more spacious warehouse equipped with better security technology. And the annual convention for the Golf Heritage Society should be a doozy.
“It was scary as f---, you know, right away,” Cornett says. “Why is the FBI taking this item away? Then they whis- per in my ear, ‘Don’t worry, Mr Cornett, you didn’t do anything wrong.’” “I had no idea what was going on,” Carey says. “My first thought was this somehow might be related to these guys’ other businesses?” Everyone was separated but not detained long. The FBI already knew Cornett’s flight time and even drove him to the airport. As the men waited for their respective flights, commercial and private, the phone calls and texts started buzzing around to figure out what the heck was going on. The collec- tor in Arizona was at a loss and having difficulty getting an answer from Kip Ingle at The Golf Auction. Unasked, the collector returned Cornett’s de- posit the next day. Within hours of that welcome delivery, Cornett also received four tickets to the 2022 Masters from his wealthy friend. The day Globensky was sentenced, Augusta National released this statement: Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament are deeply committed to fiercely guarding from theft or misuse our intellectual property, artifacts and commercial goods associ- ated with our brands. We were severely disappointed to learn several years ago that a former Augusta National employee betrayed that principle, and our trust, by stealing from the Club, Tournament and even a number of legends whose accomplish- ments at the Masters and in the game of golf are revered by all. In short, the em- ployee made significant personal gain with no regard for the impact his selfish- ness would have on the Club, players, the Tournament, and his fellow employees. We are grateful for the service of the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their hard work and dedication to bringing this matter to justice.
HE INDICATED HE MIGHT OFFER $3.65 MILLION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NEVER INTENTION OF THAT OR ANY AMOUNT CHANGING HANDS.
GOING AWAY Globenksy was sentenced to 12 months, but his attorney thinks he’ll more
the collector’s house on foot with a garment bag from Men’s Wearhouse, saying he’d parked a couple of blocks away. “He’s a billionaire. He doesn’t shop at Men’s Wearhouse. So you knew that like, that was weird … Must’ve been (the FBI) dropped him off close, and he walked up with the bag they had given him.” The weather was sunny and balmy, so the inclination for a short walk wasn’t odd. While he had nothing to do with the transaction, the fourth person present was Ryan Carey – who had flown from his home city of Boston to play curator for this collector before. Strangers entering the collector’s home, a veritable museum, with just his son there was sensitive, and knowledgeable Carey could give a guided tour to make the experience fuller for all. Carey also liked the idea of getting facetime with two heavy-hitter collectors. The four were in the house about an hour. Most of the time was spent discussing other memorabilia, including various sports items Cornett had brought to show his friend. The vibe was that the deal for the Palmer jacket was already done. In the final minutes of the visit, the collector’s son removed the jacket from its display in an unlocked shadow box and handed it over. “There was nothing transactional about the moment,” Carey says. “When you’re selling somebody some- thing for $200, you want the money first, but with people of this level there’s trust.” Carey was still at the top of the front steps when he saw five suited agents appear as if out of nowhere. They announced which governmental organisation they represented and took charge on the sidewalk, the exact line of public land.
likely serve eight-and-a- half months.
BARBARA SHEARER CONTRIBUTED REPORTING
May 2024 Globenksy pleads guilty to transporting stolen goods across state lines.
March 2025 Globensky sentenced to 12 months in prison.
November/ December 2021 Justin Cornett is contacted by a wealthy collector to locate the Arnold Palmer jacket.
February 2022 Arnold Palmer’s jacket is located in Chicago.
March 2022 The FBI arranges a sting operation and seizes the jacket.
August 2022 Globensky is arrested by the FBI and begins cooperating.
March 2023 With FBI listening, Globenksy arranges controlled transaction with owner of MMO.
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