Former Augusta National employee admits stealing millions worth of Masters merchandise

A former longtime employee of the Augusta National Golf Club pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to stealing millions of dollars worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia and selling it to an online broker.

Richard Brendan Globensky, 39, of Augusta admitted committing the thefts while working as a warehouse assistant from 2009 until 2022. The stolen items included Masters shirts, hats, flags, and watchers, as well as historically significant items such as the Green Jackets won by Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan, and documents written and signed by Bobby Jones.

Globensky pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a federal charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

The stolen items, which Globensky sold to an online broker in Florida, were worth about $5.6 million. The broker then resold the items, often at significant markups from the amounts paid to Globensky.

Sentencing in the case is set for Oct. 29.