Ever watched the end of a big golf tournament and wondered, what exactly is that trophy called? You're not alone. While some team sports have one famous piece of hardware that everyone competes for, golf is a bit different. Its long and storied history is told through a collection of unique, iconic, and sometimes unusual awards. This article is your guide to the most famous trophies in the game, from the story behind the Claret Jug to the most coveted piece of clothing in all of sports.
If you're looking for one single name for "the" golf trophy, you won't find it. Unlike the Stanley Cup in hockey or the Vince Lombardi Trophy in American football, there isn't one universal prize. Instead, each major tournament, prestigious event, and tour championship has its own distinctly named trophy, each with its own incredible history.
This is actually one of the coolest parts of golf. The trophies aren't just prizes, they are historical artifacts. They connect today's champions to legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Annika Sörenstam, and Tiger Woods. When a player lifts the U.S. Open Trophy, they are physically connecting with a lineage of greats that goes back more than a century. So, the question isn't "what is the golf trophy called?" but rather, "what are the stories behind golf's greatet trophies?"
In men's professional golf, there is no higher achievement than winning a major championship. These four tournaments are the ultimate test of skill, nerve, and endurance. Winning one makes you a part of history, and their trophies are golfing's most sacred objects.
When you picture the winner of the Masters in April, you probably don't picture a trophy at all. You picture the famous Green Jacket. This is, without a doubt, the most iconic "award" in golf. The tradition is simple and powerful: the previous year's champion helps the new winner put on the jacket in a symbolic passing of the torch.
The tradition started in 1937, when Augusta National Golf Club members began wearing the jackets so that fans could easily identify them as reliable sources of information during the tournament. In 1949, the club began awarding a jacket to the champion. But here's the catch: the champion only gets to take the jacket home for one year. After that, it must be returned to the club, where it remains in a special champion's locker, only to be worn when they are on the grounds of Augusta National.
But did you know there is also a physical trophy? The actual trophy, which often sits unnoticed on a table during the ceremony, is a stunning, 90-pound sterling silver replica of the Augusta National clubhouse. The winner gets to keep a smaller, personal replica, but the big one stays at the club, engraved with the names of every winner.
Next up is the Wanamaker Trophy, awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship. If the Green Jacket is about subtle prestige, the Wanamaker is about sheer size and presence. Named after Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate and avid sportsman who was instrumental in founding the PGA of America, this is one of golf's heavyweight prizes.
The trophy stands at an impressive 28 inches tall, is 27 inches from handle to handle, and weighs 27 pounds. It's a massive cup that pros often look like they're struggling to lift after 72 grueling holes. One of the most famous stories about the Wanamaker involves the legendary Walter Hagen. After winning in 1925, he supposedly "lost" the trophy. Hagen won again the next two years, and when asked where the trophy was, he'd evade the question. It turned out he'd paid a taxi driver to deliver it... to his private club instead of the tournament venue and didn't mention it. The trophy was finally recovered in 1930 from a storage room!
The trophy for the U.S. Open is a classic and elegant silver jug topped with a winged female figure, representing Victory. Its formal name is the U.S. Open Championship Trophy, and its history embodies the tournament's reputation as golf's "toughest test."
The original trophy was created by the Gorham Company in 1895 but was tragically destroyed in a fire at the Tam O'Shanter clubhouse in 1946, where defending champion Lloyd Mangrum had it stored. The United States Golf Association (USGA) quickly commissioned a full-scale replica, which is the trophy that's awarded today. Winners don't actually get to keep this historical prize. After their victory celebration, the original is sent back to the USGA Museum. Champions receive a smaller an exact, smaller replica to keep permanently, a tradition started in 1986.
Arguably the most famous and beloved trophy in all of golf is the Claret Jug. Awarded to the winner of The Open Championship (often called the British Open by Americans), its official name is The Golf Champion Trophy, but it is universally known by its nickname, which comes from its resemblance to the silver jugs used to serve claret, a dry red wine from Bordeaux.
The Jug has a fascinating origin. The prize for early winners of The Open was actually a "Challenge Belt" made of red Moroccan leather. According to the rules, a player who won the championship three years in a row got to keep the belt permanently. After Young Tom Morris accomplished this feat in 1870, the tournament was left without a prize. When the championship resumed in 1872, the Claret Jug was created. The winner is allowed to keep the Jug for a year, and filling it with wine, beer, or a favorite beverage for a celebratory drink is a time-honored tradition that champions cherish.
The women's game has an equally rich history, with five major championships, each boasting a trophy that signifies the pinnacle of the sport.
While the majors offer immortality, other events and tours have created trophies that are deeply meaningful and highly sought after by players.
The FedExCup is a different kind of prize. It's not awarded for a single tournament victory, but rather for season-long excellence on the PGA Tour. Players accumulate points throughout the year to qualify for a series of playoff events, culminating in the Tour Championship. The winner is the player who triumphs over the entire season's grind and walks away with what is arguably the biggest single prize in sports: a trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. and a massive multi-million dollar bonus.
The tiny, 17-inch-tall Ryder Cup holds an outsized significance. This trophy is not about individual glory but about team pride, pitting the best golfers from the United States against the best from Europe. English businessman Samuel Ryder commissioned the trophy, which is topped by a small figure of a golfer. That figure is modeled on Abe Mitchell, Ryder's own golf instructor. What makes the Ryder Cup so special are the emotions it evokes - the roars of the crowd, the dramatic comebacks, and the pure joy of winning for your teammates and your continent.
There's a constant debate in golf about whether THE PLAYERS Championship should be considered the "fifth major," given its deep field and massive prestige. Fittingly, it has a trophy equal to its status. The modern PLAYERS Championship Trophy is a stunning creation made through a mix of cutting-edge technology and classic craftsmanship from Tiffany & Co. The golfer on top is a unique work of art, it was created by taking digital renderings of the swings of every past champion and creating a "composite universal golfer" that represents the ideal form. It’s a beautiful tribute to the players who have conquered the challenging Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
As you can see, the trophies of golf are as varied and rich in history as the game itself. Each piece of hardware, from the small Ryder Cup to the massive Wanamaker Trophy, tells a story of triumph, failure, tradition, and the incredible effort it takes to win at the highest level.
Knowing the stories behind these historic trophies can bring a deeper appreciation and inspiration to your own game. While we all dream of lifting a major trophy, every golfer can hunt for their own personal victories on the course. We designed Caddie AI to be your partner in that journey. Whether you need a smart strategy for a tricky par-5 or help deciding what to do from a tough lie in the woods, Caddie offers you the kind of expert advice once reserved for the pros, right in your pocket. It’s here to take the guesswork out of your game so you can play with more confidence and turn your next round into a personal win.
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