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St. Louis, MO -  The Bob Jones Award is the highest honor given by the USGA. Established in 1955, this award is presented in recognition for an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character, and respect for the game as exhibited by Bob Jones. 

Jones was a highly skilled amateur golfer, winning nine USGA Championships and five international championships. The only major of today he never played was the PGA Championship, and the only one he did not win was the Masters - though he was the co-founder of the tournament. He completed the original Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, British Amateur, and The Open in 1930, a feat we will likely never see again.  

As if Jones’ achievements weren’t enough to earn him praise from the golfing world, it was his character that made him truly remarkable. He believed in the integrity of the game. Twice he called himself for a penalty in the U.S. Open that no one else had seen. The first time he did this his playing partner and even officials tried to talk him out of applying this penalty to his score, but he insisted. Jones had a spirit for the game and subsequently became a great influence for all future generations. He carried himself and the game with great respect in regards to his fellow competitors.  

Now, the USGA honors his legacy through the Bob Jones Award. The 2026 Bob Jones Award Recipient is Ellen Port.  

Ellen Port of St. Louis, MO embodies what this award is all about. Like Bob Jones, she has had a successful career as an amateur golfer, having won seven USGA Championships. Only four golfers have more titles than her. But it is the way she carries herself that has made a lasting impression on the game.  

Port is known locally for her dominating performance as a seventeen time champion of the Metropolitan Women’s Amateur and twenty-four time recipient of the Metropolitan Women’s Player of the Year. She even made history in 2021 when she won the [men’s] Metropolitan Senior Amateur at her home club of Sunset Country Club. Nationally, Port is known for her seven titles from the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (1995, 1996, 2000, 2011) and U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur (2012, 2013, 2016).  

In 1994 and 1996, she was selected to represent the USA in the Curtis Cup. Her success on the course coupled with her leadership impact led her to being named captain of the winning Curtis Cup team in 2014, which was played right here in St. Louis at St. Louis Country Club. 

Both on and off the course, Port treats every golfer with respect. She is genuinely excited to see the next generation of golfers making their way into the game and cheering them on as they make strides towards their goals. Whether she is playing with a 17-year old kid, her peers, or someone she has looked up to in the game, Port does so with the same grace, joy, and respect for each. Off the course, she holds a kindness and appreciation for each person that helps make it possible to play each day and that makes a difference in the game.  

Much like the namesake of this award, Port believes in the integrity of the game. She’s not afraid to call herself on a penalty and believes in her competitors to do the same. Throughout her coaching career at both the high school and collegiate level, she instilled these fundamental principles into her athletes while leading them to compete state and national championships, respectively.  

She has made a profound impact on those she has coached, captained, and played alongside. Port has never stopped encouraging future generations, especially girls and women, to get in the game. She provides insight, inspiration, and reassurance to all that there is a place for them to play and enjoy golf.  

The accolades Port has collected over the years, including three different Hall of Fame inductions, have made her a name to know, but it is the joy, humility, and integrity she brings that make her a person to remember.  

With this award, Port joins a long list of distinctive and prestigious names in the game. She joins the rank alongside Francis Ouimet, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Barbara Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Nancy Lopez, Annika Sorenstam, Lee Elder, Tiger Woods, and so many more. Port is the 72nd recipient of this award.  

Ellen Port was presented with the Bob Jones Award on February 28 in New York City at the United States Golf Association Annual Meeting. Executive Director, Curt Rohe and Founder as well as former USGA President, Tom O’Toole were present to represent the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association and celebrate this great honor with her. We are proud to know Ellen and serve witness as part of her legendary golf legacy. 


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