The United States Golf Association has announced the winners of their annual awards, including the Herbert Warren Wind Award for Golf Literature. We are delighted to announce that Stephen Proctor, author of Matchless: Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the Rise of Women’s Golf, is the recipient of this year’s prize.

In Matchless, Proctor explores the historic rivalry between English golfer Joyce Wethered and American golfer Glenna Collett. Through extensive research and vivid storytelling, Proctor details how Wethered and Collett’s exceptional skill and international rivalry brought unprecedented attention to women’s golf, helping elevate the game during its formative years. Readers are taken on a journey from their first meeting at Troon in 1925 to their remarkable match at St. Andrews, set against the broader historical context of the era.

The book offers a glimpse into an often-forgotten chapter of golf history, illustrating how Wethered and Collett paved the way for the emergence of women’s professional golf tours and shaped the broader perceptions of the women’s game. Proctor’s book will be on display at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J., home to the world’s largest collection of golf books and periodicals, with more than 100,000 individual volumes.

Stephen said, “I am deeply honored to be given an award named for one of my literary idols, but it is especially gratifying to receive this recognition for Matchless, as so few stories have been written about heroines of the women’s game,” said Proctor. “Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the women upon whose shoulders they stood deserve to be celebrated as long as golf is played, and I hope this book and this award contribute to preserving the memory of their trailblazing accomplishments.”

“This year, we are honored to recognize three outstanding individuals whose influence on the game is felt in many ways,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “Through their service and expertise, each award winner has made a lasting impact on golf, reflecting the very values these awards were created to honor.”

A huge congratulations to Stephen Proctor, whose books on golf, which also include Monarch of the Green and The Long Golden Afternoon, have made a substantial contribution to the world of golf literature. A well deserved success!