Soon to start in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Women’s Open is perhaps one of the most looked forward to women’s golfing competitions of the year. Many gifted players are scheduled to play at Lancaster Country Club in an attempt to split the massive $12 million prize money. Is that all they are giving the victor, though? Absolutely not, not even close. In addition, the major will present the champion with the Harton S. Semple Trophy.
At the Women’s Open, 156 golfers will so compete among themselves to win the recognizable cup of the second major of the 2024 season.
The story behind the U.S. Women’s Open trophy
The Women’s PGA held the first “premier championship” in the sport from 1946 to 1948. The LPGA then inherited it in 1949 and held the same tournament for four years. At last, in 1953 the USGA intervened and assumed command of the administration. The association replaced the trophy that had been given by the Spokane Athletic Round Table, the sponsors at the time.
They declined to utilize the trophy and to turn down the group’s offer to carry on sponsoring as well. For the U.S. Women’s Open, the USGA thus chose to create a “sterling silver, two-handled trophy produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co.” The Harton S. Semple Trophy was created in 1992 as part of the association’s policy to retire a few of its souvenirs. The Semple family donated the money for its creation.
The Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History and the USGA Museum then housed the original trophy. Concurrently, Patty Sheehan, the winner of the 1992 U.S. Women’s Open, received the Harton S. Semple Trophy, which weighs 8.4 pounds and is 13.25 inches high and 15 inches broad. The golfer had prevailed against Juli Inkster at Oakmont Country Club in an 18-hole playoff to win the tournament.
The award is still one of the most important ones in women’s golf, if not the whole game in the United States. Ladies Open. It also makes the ideal memorial for the former USGA president.
Harton Semple inspired the creation of the trophy
Originally an attorney, the golf fanatic started moving up the USGA management ladder in order to promote the game he loved. He ultimately reached the top and was president from 1974 to 1975 after years of doing the same while promoting the game, organizing tournaments, and working to manage golfing rules.
Sadly, in 1990 Semple suffered from heart failure and lost his life. Choosing to honor him, his friends and family sent money to the USGA. The rest is history because the USGA commissioned the famous Harton S. Semple Trophy, which is now used in the U.S. Women’s Open.
