Tiger Woods rewrote the history of both the US Junior Amateur and the US Amateur. Now, the prizes presented to the winners of those events have been renamed – and redesigned – in his honor.
The USGA announced Saturday that Woods’ name will be associated with two of the most prestigious amateur awards starting this year.
It is difficult to imagine a more fitting recipient of such a tribute. Between 1991 and 1996, Woods captured three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles, immediately followed by three consecutive U.S. Amateur victories. Both trifectas in themselves seem destined to rank alongside Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, one of the most untouchable records in sports. That Woods has pulled off both, back to back – well, if Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Scottie Scheffler were to one day be reincarnated as singles, someone might have a chance.
Under the new arrangement, the U.S. Amateur champion will receive the Tiger Woods Medal in addition to the historic Havemeyer Trophy, while the U.S. Junior Amateur trophy – previously without a secondary name – will directly bear Woods’ name.
“The USGA and its championships have played a huge role in my life,” Woods said in a news release. “The US Junior Amateur and US Amateur were defining moments in my development, both as a golfer and as a person. To be recognized in this way is incredibly humbling, and I hope it inspires young players to pursue their dreams and appreciate the history and values of the game.”
USGA CEO Mike Whan said Woods’ amateur dominance has permanently changed expectations for elite young players.
“Tiger Woods redefined what was possible in amateur golf,” Whan said. “His achievements as a junior and amateur not only set records – they set a new standard of excellence. Naming our US Amateur Medal and US Junior Amateur Trophy in his honor ensures that every future champion is forever linked to a legacy that helped shape the modern game.”
The move places Woods alongside a select group of legends whose names are linked to USGA championship hardware, including Jack Nicklaus (the US Open medal), Mickey Wright (US Women’s Open medal) and JoAnne Carner, whose namesake the US Women’s Amateur championship medal will be awarded for the first time this year.
The awards now named after Woods will be presented later this season, with the Tiger Woods Medal presented at the U.S. Amateur in Merion and the Tiger Woods Trophy presented at the U.S. Junior Amateur in Saucon Valley.
The renaming award came amid a busy series of announcements from the USGA at its annual meeting in New York. At the top of these updates was news that Inverness Club has been awarded the 2045 US Open, a return to the championship spotlight for a club that has hosted six majors but has not hosted a national championship since 1979. In other news from the championship site: National Golf Links of America was selected to host the 2040 Walker Cup; Cypress Point Club will host the 2042 Curtis Cup and 2048 Walker Cup; and Seminole Golf Club received the 2046 Curtis Cup and the 2052 Walker Cup.
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