In the verdant fairways and undulating greens, THE PLAYERS Trophy stands as an epitome of triumph and excellence. It was first introduced in 2019, replacing the Waterford Crystal that was previously awarded to the winners. In 2019, the championship not only had a shift in the trophy but also shocked the golf world with an astounding sum of prize money.

The purse of the tournament was increased by 13% as compared to the previous year, and a whopping sum of $12.5 million was up for grabs. This amount was the biggest prize professional golf has ever seen for a single tournament. Regarded as the unofficial fifth major, the championship also landed on a new non-Mother’s Day date, and was shifted from August. 

However, the highlight of the season was indeed the sterling silver and 24k gold vermeil trophy, which was custom-designed by Tiffany & Co. that was created using a procedure called electroforming.

In this process, the layers of precipitate are built up around a temporary core using electric current. That is what gives it a smooth and seamless finish. The design team at Tiffany & Co. worked closely with the PGA Tour and did their best to bring out the replica of the holder whose form was created into a mold by using 3D printing technology.

It was modeled using the inspiration of the logo of the PGA Tour, which has become a representation of the players. The trophy is a small statue of the swinging golfer standing on the iconic no. 17 island green at the TPC Sawgrass. The intricate details such as the signature Pete Dye pilings and the surrounding water are also incorporated.

According to the senior director of Tiffany & Co., the trophy should be able to tell a story, whether it is about the athlete, the equipment they use, or the location. Thus, the new trophy, which stands 17 inches tall, is a demonstration of the TPC Sawgrass. Using sophisticated computer modeling, the designers also incorporated significant aspects of all 38 winners of the Players, starting from Jack Nicklaus to Webb Simpson. Well, this is not the first time that the trophy has been replaced. Best yes, but not the first!

The Evolution of the Players Trophy

The PGA Tour has brought out four different editions of the prestigious PLAYERS Trophy in its close to 50 years of existence, including the 2019 one. In the initial years, from 1974 to 1981, the winners were rewarded with an understated trophy called the Joseph C. Dey Jr. Trophy. It was just an amalgamation of wood and bronze plaques.

In 1982, the tournament crossed the street from the Sawgrass CC, and it became its lasting home. This was what inspired an upgrade to the winning prize to match the flagship of the Tour.  They crafted it with a large black slab of granite, featuring a golden golfer and silver trees. However, Deane Beman, the former commissioner of the PGA Tour, agreed that the prize was simply not of practical use in a trophy ceremony.

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This was when they decided to come up with another alternative. In 1982, an iconic prize called the Waterford Crystal was introduced. It was first raised by Jerry Late, and Webb Simpson was the last one to cradle it in 2018. After this, not just the trophy but even the championship, which was formerly called the Tournament Players Championship, was changed to the Players Championship. And then finally came the last and most adorned Players Trophy, made of gold, and that is the running award for the winners in the 2024 championship as well!

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