McIlroy ball from British Open goes for $52,000

Published Aug. 10, 2014 3:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- How easy is it to make $38,000? Just catch the ball that Rory McIlroy used to win the Open Championship.

After tapping in for his third major victory last month at Hoylake, McIlroy turned and chucked the ball into the stands in celebration.

Lee Horner of Leeds, England, was the lucky fan to catch the ball and offered it up for auction on Internet site greenjacketauctions.com.

Nike confirmed the custom Nike RZN Black golf ball with "RORS" embossed was authentic, and Horner just waited until early Sunday morning before learning that he made just more than $38,000, with the item's final price of $52,038.65. According to the auction agency, the winning big came from an American.

According to Green Jacket Auctions, the ball McIlroy threw into the stands at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will be part of its next auction in November.

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