The US Women's Open champion gets one of the truly unique trophies in golf: the US Women's Open trophy. US Women's Open champions then leave tournament site and are seen around the country and throughout the world with the trophy as a symbol of their remarkable achievement.
Many golf fans wonder if the US Women's Open champion gets to keep the trophy permanently, or if not forever, for how long.
How long does the US Women's Open winner get to keep the trophy?
US Women's Open champions get to keep the trophy for a year. From the day they win the US Women's Open trophy, winners can take the trophy wherever they wish. When the week of the next year's US Women's Open tournament starts, players are expected to bring back the trophy and give it back to the USGA. It's often done in a bit of a ceremonial fashion.
If a US Women's Open winner successfully defends their title, then they're able to keep the trophy for another year, from the date of that next US Women's Open win to the start of the next US Women's Open tournament. That is a rare achievement.
The tradition of presenting the US Women's Open winner is as long as the tournament itself, as long as it's been a USGA-conducted championship, dating back to 1953.
Prior to 1953, champions received a trophy donated by the Spokane Athletic Round Table, a men’s fraternal order. When the USGA took over the championship, they created a sterling silver, two-handled trophy produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co., of Philadelphia. The original trophy was replicated in 1992 by the family of former USGA president Harton Semple, whose daughter, Carol Semple Thompson, is one of the best women's amateur players ever.
The Harton S. Semple Cup was first presented to Patty Sheehan at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club in 1992, and the original U.S. Women’s Open trophy is on display at the USGA Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.
For most US Women's Open winners, it's a great year of their lives to be able to have the trophy in their possession. However, while they're only able to look at the US Women's Open trophy for a year, they also receive and have the option to receive a replica trophy for their home or trophy mantle.
