The Ryder Cup trophy was first presented as the prize for the international competition between American and British professional golfers in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts, which was won by the. U.S. Team.

The Ryder Cup trophy was commissioned by English seed merchant Samuel A. Ryder to Mappin & Webb Co., who created the trophy for 250 pounds. That’s the equivalent of roughly $21,000 in 2020. Ryder presented the trophy to the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Ryder Cup trophy is made out of gold and is 17 inches tall and measures nine inches from handle to handle. It weighs four pounds, roughly the same as a large bottle of ketchup.

Despite the competition being named for him, the figure atop the Ryder Cup trophy is not Samuel A. Ryder. The figure is Abe Mitchell, one of the most prominent golfers in Britain during the 1920s. Mitchell, who came up short of winning the Open Championship with eight top 10s in 17 appearances, was named by longtime golf writer Henry Longhurst as “the finest golfer never to win the Open Championship.” Mitchell became a friend of Ryder’s and later became his golf instructor. Mitchell competed in three Ryder Cups with a record of 4-2-0.

The original Ryder Cup trophy is housed at the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland. A replica is given to the winner of the bi-annual competition.