Golf's Lucky Charms

Golf's Lucky Charms
Golf's Lucky Charms /

Golf's Lucky Charms

Jesper Parnevik

Jesper Parnevik
Robert Beck/SI

Many PGA Tour pros carry a good-luck charm while playing a tournament to help ward off golf's bogeyman. Parnevik's cigar (five years old and counting) is to be lit only in the case of a win.

Dean Wilson

Dean Wilson
Robert Beck

Two 1963 quarters whose dates -- minus the 19s -- denote a desired score.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods
Robert Beck/SI

A tiger headcover embroidered with "good luck" in Thai by his mother, Kultida.

Tommy Armour III

Tommy Armour III
Robert Beck/SI

Two Mercury-head dimes and a divot tool bearing an unprintable sentiment on the back.

Jason Gore

Jason Gore
Robert Beck/SI

A bag tag bearing a photo of his 17-month-old son, Jaxon.

Brandt Jobe

Brandt Jobe
Robert Beck/SI

An 1889 silver dollar and quarters dated with the years that he (1965) and wife Jennifer (1970) were born.

Tom Pernice

Tom Pernice
Robert Beck/SI

Photos in his yardage book of his daughters, Kristen (top), 12, and Brooke, 11.

Craig Barlow

Craig Barlow
Robert Beck/SI

A divot tool from the 1995 U.S. Amateur, won by Tiger Woods, at Newport (R.I.) Country Club.

Matthew Goggin

Matthew Goggin
Robert Beck/SI

The PGA Tour I.D. badge of his coach Ross Herbert, who died in 2000.

Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson
Robert Beck/SI

A ball marker engraved with his name, given to him by his wife, Angie.

Chris Smith

Chris Smith
Robert Beck/SI

The number 15 on his club, because he believes golfers are athletes and should have a number.

Jerry Kelly

Jerry Kelly
Robert Beck/SI

A Filipino coin given to him by an anonymous spectator in 1993 at his first Nationwide tour event.

Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia
Robert Beck/SI

A horn from Naples, Italy, that he wears on a chain around his neck.

Billy Andrade

Billy Andrade
Robert Beck/SI

A chestnut given to him by Polly Mitchell, Andrade's 99-year-old neighbor in Atlanta.

Luke Donald

Luke Donald
Robert Beck/SI

Hawaiian-print golf balls given to him by a marshal behind the 7th hole at the Sony Open.

Charles Howell

Charles Howell
Robert Beck/SI

A crucifix given by a stranger in a Burger King before a high school match at which Howell shot a 64.

Tom Lehman

Tom Lehman
Robert Beck/SI

Hawaiian tea leaves given to him every January at the Sony Open by a friend named Dot.

Omar Uresti

Omar Uresti
Robert Beck/SI

A 50-cent piece received as change in Garden City, Kans., in 1991 during the week of his first pro tournament.


Published