The Weirdest Trophies In Professional Golf
In the world of professional golf, excellence is rewarded with prestigious trophies that symbolize the pinnacle of achievement.
However, amidst the iconic cups and coveted jackets, there lies a collection of prizes that stand out for their sheer absurdity. From peculiar sculptures to unconventional keepsakes, these trophies add a touch of whimsy to the serious business of winning on the golf course.
Qatar Masters
We get this weird trophy list started with one you don’t see anywhere else on the world Tours. The Qatar Masters gives its winner this unusual prize featuring a giant oyster on top of a girthy, pedestal. This friendly mother of pearl mollusk was actually inspired by the history of the golf state and is said to weigh quite a bit.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic is a staple of the early part of the European Tour season, and the winner gets a trophy that looks like a giant coffee pot that you’d probably never use. Hopefully, it comes with shipping fees included because there is no way that’s fitting in the overhead bin in the plane on the way home!
Trophee Hassan II
The winner of the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II receives this sharp (pun intended) prize. It is a jewel encrusted dagger that can be used for multiple things such as a quick shave or survival in the woods. Good luck getting that thing through customs!
Hero World Challenge
The oversized tiger trophy, won multiple times by the host himself, may seem self-indulgent, but the event supports a good cause. The Tiger Woods Foundation raises funds to improve the health, education, and welfare of children in America. While the trophy might be better suited for a child’s bedroom, it symbolizes the positive impact of the foundation’s work.
Castello Masters
The winner of the Castello Masters gets to take home this trophy that looks more like a cartoon character than an actual trophy. Sergio Garcia has won it twice. Slightly different than a green jacket.
BMW Charity Pro-Am
Now here’s a trophy all car lovers will love. The Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am gives out this replica steering wheel to its winner. Unfortunately, the rest of the car isn’t included.
WINSTON Golf Senior Open
The European Senior Tour proudly hands out this burnt piece of wood with a golf ball glued to it to its champion. Nothing commemorates a victory like something that looks like it belongs in the trash.
Nelson Mandela Championship
In an ode to the father of modern day South Africa, the winner of the Nelson Mandela Championship received this unusual piece of hardware depicting him reading to a culturally diverse group of children.
LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge
While they’ve since changed the name of the event and the trophy, there is no way we were going to pass this one up. Christie Kerr won the Longs Drugs Challenge back in 2002 and would’ve become an instant meme if the internet was a thing back then. Fortunately for us, it is now.
Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
The winner of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters gets to take home this frightening piece of hardware. In what looks like a prop out of a horror movie, this half nun figure is sure to scare the bejesus out of whoever looks at your mantel.
KEB-HanaBank Championship
This interesting trophy is handed out at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in South Korea. While there is probably some significance to the design we couldn’t tell you what it is, besides looking like a wooden rabbit.
Swiss Ladies Open
Amy Boulden won her first LET title in Switzerland in 2020, and along with the feat was handed a trophy in the shape of a cow.
Safeway Open
Winners of the Safeway Open (now the Fortinet Championship) received a replica wine barrel trophy that could double as a seat, perfect for relaxing after 72 holes of grueling competition.
Hana Bank Championship
The Hana Bank Championship trophy, presented until 2016, was a vase that would fail miserably at holding water. Surprisingly, the trophy design has only deteriorated since then.
Lancome Trophy
This Greek God bust trophy features an oddly placed golf ball, possibly representing the heart, leaving room for interpretation.
Sanderson Farms Championship
The Sanderson Farms Championship trophy, featuring a proud Chaunticleer, the protagonist of a fable about escaping a cunning fox and avoiding reckless decisions, holding special meaning for the event’s CEO, Joe Sanderson.
MCB Tour Championship
This trophy, inspired by the Seychelles’ coco de mer nut, native to Praslin island, bears an uncanny resemblance to a posterior.
Zozo Championshp
Finally, we end with the winner’s prized possession from the Zozo Championship, the PGA Tour’s first event in Japan, which looks like a giant ring that the winners routinely treat as a peep board.
