Tiger Woods, the most recent recipient of the USGA’s highest accolade, the Bob Jones Award, was announced on Sunday by the organization. You may be familiar with him.
According to a USGA press statement, Woods was given the medal “in recognition of his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s time-honored traditions.”
Seldom has there been a more worthy opponent. With 82 PGA Tour triumphs and 15 major tournament victories under his belt, Woods has more accomplished than anybody else in the last few decades, if not ever. He has also significantly altered the game of golf.
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Tiger Woods during the Genesis Invitational standing on a green.
Tiger Woods will attend this VIP event for the first time ever.
AUTHOR: JACK HIRSH
In the news release, USGA CEO Mike Whan stated, “This award goes beyond playing performance, recognizing the lasting impact of one person’s journey that has forever changed the image and growth of golf.” “In terms of on-course achievements, very few can match Tiger Woods, and he is unmatched in terms of the influence he has had on the game and upcoming generations of players.”
The press release included a remark from Woods, who expressed appreciation for being recognized with the namesake of the prize.
In his statement, Woods said, “I’m truly humbled to receive the award that bears his name and join the many who have received it before me who continue his legacy. Bob Jones was a pillar of our game because of the integrity with which he played it.” “Receiving this honor from the USGA is especially fitting, as it has greatly impacted not only my career but the entire golf industry.”
Nine USGA championships have been won by Woods in total: three U.S. Junior Amateur titles, three U.S. Amateur titles, and three U.S. Open victories.
Following injuries, 48-year-old Woods is currently making his latest comeback on the PGA Tour. The sickness kept him out of the Genesis Invitational in February. He is anticipated to participate in Monday’s Seminole Pro-Member event, but it is currently unknown when he will make his next Tour appearance.
A complete list of previous Bob Jones Award winners can be seen below.
Previous Bob Jones Award recipients include: 1965 — Charles Evans Jr. 1960 — Findlay S. Douglas 1960 — Francis Ouimet 1956 — William C. Campbell 1957 — Margaret Curtis 1959 — Charles Evans Jr. 1962 — Joseph B. Carr 1962 — Horton Smith 1963 — Patty Berg 1964 — Charles Coe 1965 — Glenna Collett Vare
Gary Player, 1966
Richard S. Tufts (1967), Gerald H. Micklem (1969), Roberto de Vicenzo (1971), Arnold Palmer (1972), Michael Bonallack (1973), Gene Littler (1974), Byron Nelson (1975), Jack Nicklaus
Ben Hogan in 1976, Joseph C. Dey Jr. in 1977, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in 1978, Tom Kite in 1979, Charles Yates in 1980, JoAnne Carner in 1981, William J. Patton in 1982, and Maureen Ruttle Garrett in 1983…
R. Jay Sigel in 1984, Fuzzy Zoeller in 1985, Jess Sweetser in 1986, and Tom Watson in 1987
1988: Chi Chi Rodriguez; 1989: Isaac B. Grainger
Peggy Kirk Bell, 1990
Ben Crenshaw in 1991 and Gene Sarazen in 1992
P.J. Boatwright Jr. in 1993; Lewis Oehmig in 1994; Herbert Warren Wind in 1995
From 1996 to 1999, Betsy Rawls, Fred Brand Jr., Nancy Lopez, Edgar Updegraff, Barbara McIntire, and Thomas Cousins
Judy Rankin in 2002 and Carol Semple Thompson in 2003
George H.W. Bush in 2004; Jackie Burke Jr. in 2005; Nick Price in 2006; Jay Haas in 2007; Louise Suggs in 2008; O. Gordon Brewer Jr. in 2009; Mickey Wright in 2010
Lorena Ochoa in 2011 and Annika Sorenstam in 2012
Davis Love III in 2013; Payne Stewart in 2014; Barbara Nicklaus in 2015; Judy Bell in 2016
2017 — Bob Ford
Dennis Walters in 2018; Lee Elder in 2019; Se Ri Pak in 2020; Robert C. Lewis Jr. in 2021; Juli Inkster in 2022; Johnny Miller in 2023