It surely has to be a first in the world of golf winners trophies – the Truist Championship ‘cricket bat’ trophy.

US-based Austrian Sepp Straka is the now the proud maiden winner of the PGA Tour’s inaugural $20m tournament after denying Ireland’s Shane Lowry with victory at the Cricketer’s club in suburban Philedelphia.

Straka’s win was a second this year and he now joins Rory McIlroy as the only repeat champion on this year’s 2025 PGA Tour schedule.

Indeed McIlroy was there on hand at the back of the 18th green waiting to congratulate either Straka or Lowry with each good friends and also fellow members of the victorious 2023 European Ryder Cup side in Rome.

Sepp Straka proudly holding his Truist Championship ‘cricket bat’ trophy. Image Getty/PGAT

“Rory told me at least this win counts for Ryder Cup points”, said Straka in reference to his American Express Championship win earlier this year, a win that did not attract 2025 Ryder Cup qualifying points

“Yeah, really, really happy for that. I’ve been kind of behind in the points because of that win at Amex not counting.

“I knew that, if I just kept playing good golf, I would have a chance to be there. I’m sure this will probably help me out with the rankings a lot. So very grateful, and hopefully I can keep the good play going and keep getting some more points”.

In contrast, Straka’s Thirst win has seen him jump to fifth on the Ryder Cup rankings with McIlroy top and Lowry, who recorded his second runners-up finish this year seond on the table.

However, it was the cricket bat trophy that drew much attention and, as mentioned above, surely a first in the history of golf presentations and not that it bothered Straka.

“That’s pretty cool”, he said holding the ‘bat’.

“I think that’s a one-and-done. That’s going to be my most special trophy for sure”.