USGA Renames Amateur Honors to Commemorate Tiger Woods’ Nine National Titles

The winner of the U.S. Amateur will now receive the Tiger Woods Medal following a USGA announcement at its annual meeting in New York.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) officially announced at its annual meeting in New York that the U.S. Amateur champion will now be awarded the Tiger Woods Medal. Simultaneously, the victor of the U.S. Junior Amateur is set to receive a trophy bearing the same legend's name. These honors recognize a career defined by nine national titles, a mark that ties the all-time record held by Bobby Jones. Woods’ history with the organization includes a record-setting performance at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he secured victory by a 15-shot margin, and an unprecedented run of six consecutive wins across two different amateur categories.

While this new gold-plated prize designates the top performer in the oldest amateur championship in America, the physical Havemeyer Trophy remains named after the first USGA president. This branding shift aligns the non-professional circuit with the professional ranks, where the U.S. Open winner receives the Jack Nicklaus Medal. Similarly, the champion of the U.S. Women’s Open is presented with the Mickey Wright Medal, while the JoAnne Carner Medal is reserved for the U.S. Women’s Amateur winner. Carner, who competed as JoAnne Gunderson, earned that distinction after winning her specific title five times.

Woods described his early victories between 1991 and 1996 as defining moments for his development as both a golfer and a person. He noted that these various championships played an enormous role in his life, and he expressed that being recognized in this manner is incredibly humbling. By etching his name into the hardware, the USGA aims to inspire young players to chase their dreams while appreciating the values and history inherent to the game.

The decision to rename the junior-level prize specifically highlights his dominance from 1991 to 1993, when he became the only player to win that event three years in a row. Following that streak, he transitioned to the senior amateur ranks to secure three additional consecutive victories ending in 1996. This move ensures that his name is permanently linked to the path of progression he once followed. The announcement concluded last week’s meeting, solidifying the new nomenclature for future national championships.

The USGA Executive Committee voted unanimously to approve these changes, citing the need to bridge the gap between the modern era and the historical foundations of the sport. By naming the medal after Woods, the organization places him alongside Nicklaus, who won two U.S. Amateurs and four U.S. Opens. The Jack Nicklaus Medal was established in 2012, followed by the Mickey Wright Medal in 2020 to honor the four-time U.S. Women’s Open champion. This addition completes a quartet of the most influential figures in American golf history being represented on the medals of the four most prestigious USGA events.

The first Tiger Woods Medal will be presented at the 2024 U.S. Amateur, scheduled to take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. This venue has previously hosted two U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships, providing a fitting stage for the debut of the new honor. Officials emphasized that the physical design is still being finalized but will feature an image of the champion in his signature Sunday red attire.

The original silver prizes, such as the Havemeyer Trophy, will continue to be housed at the USGA Museum in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, when not in the possession of the current champion. This initiative is part of a broader effort to celebrate the 125th anniversary of several championships. Woods remains the only player to have won the junior, amateur, and professional national titles in a career, a feat often referred to as the USGA Triple Crown.