Mark H. McCormack Medal

The Mark H. McCormack Medal is presented annually by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the last 'elite' event of the season. The award is named after World Golf Hall of Famer Mark McCormack, who was a supporter of golf and the founder of IMG.[1]

In 2011, New Zealand's Lydia Ko was awarded the first ever women's Mark H. McCormack Medal,[2] a trophy she retained in 2012[3] and 2013.

Beginning in 2012, the previous year's men's winner receives an invitation to both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship provided he remains an amateur.[4][5]

Winners

Men

The medal is awarded to the male player ranked number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking the week after the U.S. Amateur or the European Amateur whichever finishes last.

Year Winner Country
2024 Luke Clanton[6]  United States
2023 Gordon Sargent[7]  United States
2022 Keita Nakajima[8]  Japan
2021 Keita Nakajima[9]  Japan
2020 Takumi Kanaya[10]  Japan
2019 Cole Hammer[11]  United States
2018 Braden Thornberry[12]  United States
2017 Joaquín Niemann[13]  Chile
2016 Maverick McNealy[14]  United States
2015 Jon Rahm[15]  Spain
2014 Ollie Schniederjans[16]  United States
2013 Matt Fitzpatrick  England
2012 Chris Williams  United States
2011 Patrick Cantlay  United States
2010 Peter Uihlein  United States
2009 Nick Taylor  Canada
2008 Danny Lee  New Zealand
2007 Colt Knost  United States

Women

The medal is awarded to the female player ranked number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking the week after the U.S. Women's Amateur, the last elite women's WAGR event of the season.

Year Winner Country
2024 Lottie Woad[17]  England
2023 Ingrid Lindblad[18][19]  Sweden
2022 Rose Zhang[20]  United States
2021 Rose Zhang[21]  United States
2020 Rose Zhang[22]  United States
2019 Andrea Lee[23]  United States
2018 Jennifer Kupcho[24]  United States
2017 Leona Maguire[25]  Ireland
2016 Leona Maguire[26]  Ireland
2015 Leona Maguire[27]  Ireland
2014 Minjee Lee[28]  Australia
2013 Lydia Ko  New Zealand
2012 Lydia Ko  New Zealand
2011 Lydia Ko  New Zealand

References

  1. ^ "R&A Introduces the Mark H. McCormack Medal". cybergolf.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
  2. ^ "Ko awarded first ever women's Mark H. McCormack Medal". The R&A. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Lydia Ko wins Mark H McCormack medal as leading Women's WAGR player". The R&A. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Amateur Champion awarded place in U.S. Open". The R&A. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015.
  5. ^ "R&A announces changes to Open entry criteria". The Open. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Luke Clanton awarded McCormack medal as world's leading amateur golfer". World Amateur Golf Ranking. 21 August 2024.
  7. ^ Woodard, Adam (23 August 2023). "Gordon Sargent wins Mark H. McCormack Medal as world's best male amateur golfer". Golfweek. USA Today. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Keita Nakajima Awarded Mark H McCormack Medal as World's Leading Men's Amateur". R&A. 24 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Nakajima wins men's McCormack Medal". R&A. 18 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Kanaya makes WAGR history". WAGR. 9 September 2020.
  11. ^ Herrington, Ryan (21 August 2019). "Cole Hammer wraps up McCormack Medal as top men's amateur in 2019". Golf Digest.
  12. ^ "Thornberry, World's Top Male Amateur, Earns McCormack Medal". USGA. 26 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Chile's Joaquin Niemann Wins 2017 McCormack Medal". USGA. 24 August 2017.
  14. ^ Romine, Brentley (24 August 2016). "Stanford's Maverick McNealy wins Mark H. McCormack Medal as world's top amateur". Golfweek.
  15. ^ "Rahm-Rodriguez, Maguire Win McCormack Medals". USGA. 26 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Schniederjans Wins McCormack Medal As World's Leading Amateur". USGA. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Lottie Woad Awarded Mark H. McCormack Medal as World's Leading Female Amateur Golfer". World Amateur Golf Ranking. 14 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Ingrid Lindblad Awarded Mark H. McCormack Medal as World's Leading Female Amateur Golfer". World Amateur Golf Ranking. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Ingrid Lindblad får prestigefyllt pris" [Ingrid Lindblad receives a prestigious award]. Svensk Golf. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Rose Zhang Earns Third Mark H McCormack Medal". R&A. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Zhang wins second McCormack Medal". R&A. 11 August 2021.
  22. ^ Dovsek, Averee (7 October 2020). "Rose Zhang's late-summer hot streak results in WAGR bump, Mark H. McCormack Medal". Golfweek.
  23. ^ Herrington, Ryan (15 August 2019). "Stanford's Andrea Lee wins Mark H. McCormack Medal as leading women's amateur in 2019". Golfweek.
  24. ^ "Jennifer Kupcho wins McCormack Medal". R&A. 17 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Leona Maguire wins Mark H McCormack Medal for third consecutive year". World Amateur Golf Ranking. 16 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Leona Maguire wins Mark H McCormack Medal for second year in a row". R&A. 15 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Leona Maguire wins Mark H McCormack Medal as leading Women's Amateur". R&A. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015.
  28. ^ "Lee Wins McCormack Medal As Leading Amateur". USGA. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.