The History of the U.S. Open Trophy

3 June 2024

Continuing with our Major trophy history series, we look now to the U.S. Open Trophy, held at Pinehurst this year, 2024.

The first U.S. Open Trophy was commissioned by the USGA in 1895 and made by the Gorham Corporation. It does not measure quite as grand as the Wanamaker Trophy, but at 18 inches tall it is still a great trophy.

A key word in the last paragraph was first because like with the Wanamaker Trophy, in the early days the trophies seemed to attract accidents – we will get to that shortly.

Before we jump ahead to the Trophy’s accident, we must touch on the first U.S. Open tournament. The inaugural tournament was played by 10 professionals and one amateur, at Newport Golf Club (Rhode Island).

Horace Rawlins, perhaps not a household name, claims the title of the first U.S. Open winner. Rawlins moved to the States in January, the tournament was held in October, and was an assistant at Newport Golf Club.

Yes, you read that correct, the first U.S. Open Champion was in fact not from America! Instead he originated off the coast of England on the Isle of Wight!

Rawlins was presented with the U.S. Open Trophy, a gold medal, and $150 cash prize and thus the Championship was born.

For whatever reason, the Trophy would stay with the winning player’s club, and the player would keep the medal, which is why those who win in the modern era receive the gold medal as well as the Trophy.

So what happened to the first U.S. Open Trophy?

In 1946, the original U.S. Open Trophy, had the misfortune of finding itself in a building fire – Lloyd Mangrum the winner that year had proudly displayed it in his local clubhouse which unfortunately burned down taking the Trophy with it.

On the topic of trophy mishaps, if you have not read our History of the Wanamaker Trophy blog, the 1914 Champion Walter Hagen has an interesting story with the PGA Championship Trophy. 

Hagen also won The Open Championship – we are not aware of him having any mishaps with the other trophies, but the Wanamaker is definitely worth a read!

Back on to the U.S. Open Trophy. An exact replica of the first trophy was introduced in 1947 and would be used for the next 39 years before being retired in 1986 and placed into the USGA Golf Museum in New Jersey.

Onto trophy number three

So, players that are fortunate enough to call themselves a U.S. Open champion are now presented with the third U.S. Open Trophy – we’re sure they don’t care what number it is!

In keeping with tradition, players post 2012 are still presented with the gold medal like Horace and the subsequent winners were, only now it has a name, The Jack Nicklaus Medal – paying homage to the four time U.S. Open winner.

Onto trophy number four

Just kidding! We’re still using number three but Rory McIlroy very nearly made it a potential fourth after his win in 2011.

McIlroy had taken the trophy to subsequent events upon winning the Championship and ran into some issues in China.

McIlroy was playing in the Shanghai Masters and the trophy had been shipped to China to be shown off at the tournament, the issue being that Chinese customs had impounded it and were not for giving it back.

After some negotiating back and forth with customs the trophy was released and is still the trophy used to this day.

So there you have it, another Major tournament trophy with an interesting history.