We’ll state the obvious: Not every championship golf trophy is as classic and timeless in its design as the Claret Jug or the Wanamaker Trophy. In the grand scheme of things, however, that doesn’t make much of an impact. Unlike when visiting golfers peruse a club’s pro shop after their round—where the overall attractiveness of the club logo can influence their decision to buy a polo shirt—professional golfers’ motivations to win a tournament don’t hinge on what the winner’s trophy looks like.
That said, there is some interesting—and, in some cases, unusual—championship hardware out there across the landscape of professional golf tours. Here, we take a closer look at 10 of them.
John Deere Classic (PGA Tour)
Cast in bronze, the leaping stag that sits atop the winner’s trophy at the John Deere Classic is on point for its alignment with the tournament’s title sponsor. After all, the John Deere logo features a leaping buck of its own. But aside from the miniature golf green and flagstick positioned on the rightmost section of the trophy (which looks even smaller juxtaposed against the large deer figure), it’s not an award that screams “champion golfer” when you look at it.
Sanderson Farms Championship (PGA Tour)
Birdies may be synonymous with golf, but roosters…not so much. Unless, of course, it’s the week of the Sanderson Farms Championship in October. The PGA Tour event’s trophy features the striking figure of Reveille the Rooster, named in honor of the French word meaning “wake up.” They say winning builds confidence, but we have to think that the golfer who raises this trophy in victory has to feel at least a little cocky, too.
The Masters
Green Jackets get all the attention at Augusta National, but the winner of the Masters is presented another trophy that doesn’t require a sleeve length. Each April, the victor of golf’s first men’s major of the year is also given a Sterling Silver replica of the Masters Trophy, which depicts the golf club’s iconic clubhouse. The original trophy—constructed of more than 900 pieces of silver—was introduced in 1961; the Sterling Silver replicas made their debut in 1993.
Farmers Insurance Open (PGA Tour)
In my opinion, some of the best championship trophies in golf are the ones that reflect the destination or the specific course where the event is played. None do this better than the winner’s hardware at the Farmers Insurance Open, which depicts an endangered Torrey Pine perched along the edge of a cliff. You never want to be in the trees when playing golf, but holding this tree at the culmination of 72 holes is every player’s goal at the start of the week.
RBC Heritage (PGA Tour)
One might think that the RBC Heritage’s trophy would depict the iconic lighthouse that stands in the background just behind the 18th green of Harbour Town Golf Links. Instead, the tournament’s trophy immortalizes Sir William Innes, a wealthy, 17th-century Scottish golfer, whom the movers and shakers at Sea Pines Resort chose to represent the game’s origins across the pond. Stranger still, the trophy’s figurine has inspired a local method actor to dress the part and become a real-life Sir Willie walking the grounds during the week of the tournament each April. There’s also the opportunity to add, as Scottie Scheffler accomplished in 2024, another item to the winner’s wardrobe the week after the Masters in the form of a red plaid jacket.
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (DP World Tour)
Erroneously identified in the past as a giant golden clam, the trophy that accompanies the winner’s purse at the Qatar Masters is actually an oyster, which I’ve deduced only because it features a white pearl sitting in the base of the shell. While it seems an odd depiction, the tournament is played along the coast of the Persian Gulf, which is teeming with oysters, so it fits in that context. As for how it relates to golf, we’re still trying to figure that out.
Trophee Hassan II (PGA Tour Champions)
There aren’t many players on tour these days who have traditional blades in their bag. But PGA Tour Champions players who enter the Trophee Hassan II golf tournament have one blade squarely in their sights when they tee it up in Morocco that week. The tournament’s winner doesn’t receive a typical trophy; instead, the physical prize is a decorative, bejeweled dagger—one befit for royalty. Ironically, the tournament doesn’t have a cut.
Northern Territory PGA Championship (PGA Tour of Australasia)
Eventually, your eyes will spot the golf ball that’s set within the trophy for the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Northern Territory PGA Championship. It’s inevitable, however, that you should first focus on the hero object—a crocodile skull—that seems set in a permanent smile, the aforementioned golf ball held at the very front of those jaws. The trophy may not sport traditional glitz or bling, but you can bet it attracts plenty of attention when on display.
DP World Tour Championship (DP World Tour)
Much like the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour Championship witnesses two trophy presentations. A skyscraper-esque trophy is presented to the player who wins the season-long Race to Dubai, whereas a sparkling scepter is bestowed to the player who wins the tour’s concluding championship.
Shenzhen International (DP World Tour)
Much like a bull market, bullish, aggressive play out on the course can often be what’s required to win, which makes the Shenzhen International trophy so appropriate. In actuality, the trophy’s design reflects the Chinese city’s prominence as a financial hub, but it’s easy to think that when the tournament’s winners look at that trophy, they’ll think of the aggressive shots that they successfully executed to come out on top.
What is your favorite championship golf trophy? Give us your pick in the comment section.
