2024 U.S. Women’s Open: Exploring Harton S Semple Trophy’s History, Significance & More

Possibly one of the most anticipated women’s golfing events of the year, the U.S. Women’s Open will soon tee off in Pennsylvania. A lot of talented golfers will tee it up at the Lancaster Country Club for a cut of the whopping $12 million prize purse. But is that all they’re rewarding the winner with? No, not even close. The major will also award a trophy to the winner, the Harton S. Semple Trophy.

A total of 156 golfers will, thus, duke it out amongst themselves to lift the iconic cup of the second major of the 2024 season at the Women’s Open. It is quite natural, then, to be curious about the trophy that has been presented annually since 1953!

The story behind the U.S. Women’s Open trophy

The event dubbed a ‘premier championship’ of the sport was first conducted by the Women’s PGA from 1946 to 1948. It was then subsequently taken over by the LPGA in 1949, which then hosted the same event for four years. Finally, the USGA stepped in and took control of the administration in 1953. However, they brought with them a change; the trophy donated by the Spokane Athletic Round Table, who were the sponsors back then, was replaced by the association.

Along with declining the use of the trophy, they also decided to refuse the group’s offer to continue sponsorship. The USGA, thus, decided to produce another cup for the U.S. Women’s Open, a “sterling silver, two-handled trophy produced by J.E. Caldwell and Co.” It was then replicated in 1992 as a part of the association’s policies to retire several of its mementos, following which the Harton S. Semple Trophy came into being using donations from the Semple family.

The original trophy was then moved to the USGA Museum and the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. Meanwhile, the Harton S. Semple Trophy (weighing 8.4 pounds, 13.25 inches high, and 15 inches wide) was then used for the first time in the 1992 U.S. Women’s Open and was awarded to the champ, Patty Sheehan. The golfer had won the event by defeating Juli Inkster in an 18-hole playoff at Oakmont Country Club.

The prize now continues to represent one of the most prestigious titles in the realm of women’s golf, if not the whole sport, the U.S. Women’s Open. Furthermore, it serves as a perfect token in remembrance of the person who served as USGA president.

Harton Semple inspired the creation of the trophy

Initially an attorney, the golf enthusiast decided to spread the game he loved and thus began climbing up the executive tree at the USGA. After years of doing the same while promoting the sport, coordinating events, and helping regulate golfing laws, he finally made it to the top spot and served as president from 1974–75.

Semple, unfortunately, met with heart failure in 1990 and passed away as a result. His friends and family decided to do something in remembrance and, as a result, donated money to the United States Golfing Association. The rest is history, as the USGA used the money to commission the iconic Harton S. Semple Trophy that is used at the U.S. Women’s Open now. Truly an inspiring tale!