In a shocking revelation, it has been discovered that a former employee of Augusta National Golf Club, Richard Globensky, pleaded guilty to stealing several valuable green Masters jackets and other memorabilia. The theft, amounting to a staggering $5.6 million over a period of more than a decade, has prompted an extensive investigation by the FBI.

One of the stolen items, a green Masters Tournament jacket belonging to golf legend Arnold Palmer, was reportedly up for sale in Lincoln Park in 2022. This led to the uncovering of the multimillion dollar theft, which involved not only Palmer's jacket but also those of other golf greats such as Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Additionally, an Augusta National clubhouse trophy and various historic memorabilia, including tournament programs, tickets, and records, were among the stolen items.

Augusta National Golf Club, renowned for hosting the prestigious Masters golf tournament, presents the winner with a distinctive green jacket each year. These jackets are exclusively reserved for club members and are required to be returned after one year. However, Globensky managed to illicitly obtain and sell these highly coveted items through an intricate scheme.

Globensky, aged 39 and hailing from Georgia, pleaded guilty to one criminal charge and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. During his plea, he revealed that he began stealing merchandise from the club's warehouse in 2009, which included not only jackets but also various golf-related merchandise such as T-shirts, hats, flags, chairs, watches, and mugs.

To cover up the theft, Globensky took precautions by only stealing quantities that fell below auditing risk thresholds. He also had payments made in his wife's name and later established a business solely for this purpose. The stolen merchandise was stored at an off-site facility, and Globensky sold it to an individual known as "Individual A," who ran online businesses in Florida specializing in the sale and auction of Masters Tournament merchandise.

Over the course of 13 years, Globensky was paid a whopping $5.6 million for the stolen items. However, in his guilty plea, he acknowledged responsibility for causing Augusta National Golf Club a loss of approximately $3.4 million.

Globensky's sentencing is scheduled for October 29, where his attorney, Thomas Church, stated they look forward to sharing the full story. This case serves as a reminder of the measures that must be taken to safeguard valuable sporting memorabilia and the lengths some individuals may go to profit from their theft.

The investigation into this significant theft not only exposes a shocking breach of trust but also highlights the enduring allure and value of Augusta National Golf Club's prestigious green Masters jackets and memorabilia.