Tiger Woods Humbled at USGA Honour
New Jersey, United States: The medal presented annually to the US Amateur champion and the trophy awarded to the US Junior Amateur champion will be renamed and redesigned to honour Tiger Woods.
Liberty Corner, New Jersey, United States: The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced that the medal presented annually to the US Amateur champion and the trophy awarded to the US Junior Amateur champion will be renamed and redesigned to honour Tiger Woods, recognising one of the most extraordinary competitive careers in the history of the game and his unparalleled resume in amateur golf.
Beginning with the 126th US Amateur at Merion Golf Club and the 78th US Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley Country Club this year, each champion will receive the Tiger Woods Medal and the Tiger Woods Trophy, respectively, celebrating Woods’ legacy as the only player to win three consecutive US Junior Amateur Championships and three consecutive US Amateur Championships – a feat that remains unmatched.
Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, said: “Tiger Woods redefined what was possible in amateur golf. His achievements as a junior and amateur didn’t just set records – they set a new standard of excellence. Naming our US Amateur Medal and US Junior Amateur Trophy in his honour ensures that every future champion is forever connected to a legacy that helped shape the modern game.”
Woods captured the US Junior Amateur title in 1991, 1992 and 1993, followed by three consecutive US Amateur victories in 1994, 1995 and 1996. His six straight USGA amateur championships laid the foundation for a historic career that includes a total of nine USGA championship victories, highlighted by US Open wins in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Woods’ nine USGA championship victories are tied with Bob Jones for the most in history.
In addition to his competitive accomplishments, Woods’ influence on the game has extended far outside the ropes. He helped introduce golf to new audiences around the world, inspired generations of junior players and elevated the visibility and significance of amateur competition as a pathway to the highest levels of the sport. He was the recipient of the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honour, in 2024.
Woods said: “The USGA and its championships have played an enormous role in my life. The US Junior Amateur and US Amateur were defining moments in my development, both as a golfer and as a person. To be recognised in this way is incredibly humbling, and I hope it inspires young players to chase their dreams and appreciate the history and values of the game.”
Woods joins a select group of golf’s most influential figures to be honoured through the naming of USGA championship medals. The US Open gold medal bears the name of Jack Nicklaus, while the US Women’s Open medal honours Mickey Wright. Most recently, the USGA announced that the US Women’s Amateur champion’s medal will be named for eight-time USGA champion JoAnne Carner and will be presented for the first time this year at The Honors Course.
