A couple of days after he won the 2006 Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Kirk Triplett received a note from friend and two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange.
Strange — like everyone else — was reaching out to congratulate Triplett on his victory.
The note started with the normal stuff, before Strange moved on to the unique Tucson Conquistadores helmet trophy.
Strange was “letting me know that I now had one of the best trophies in golf,” Triplett said. “I thought for a second and then remembered he had two U.S. Open trophies. How can a Conquistador helmet be as good as the U.S. Open trophy? I thought that was pretty cool.”
“Pretty cool” may be the perfect way to describe the Conquistadores helmet.
In 1967, Arnold Palmer won the Tucson Open and was given a giant piggy bank trophy.
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Tournament organizers quickly realized that wasn’t going to work.
So a year later, the helmet trophy was introduced and given to 1968 winner George Knudson. The trophy was inspired by the Conquistadores logo and was actually brought back from Spain while a member was on vacation.
Since Knudson earned the giant helmet, some of the best names in golf have put it on. Previous helmet winners include Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Tom Watson, Craig Stadler, Johnny Miller and Lee Trevino.
But when Triplett won his in 2006, it marked the final time the helmet was handed out.
Until this week.
After an eight-year hiatus for the WGC-Accenture Match Play, the helmet trophy will return for this week’s Tucson Conquistadores Classic at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort. The helmet will be handed out Sunday afternoon after the final day of the three-round stroke play Champions Tour event.
“I still have mine sitting at home out in my office,” Triplett said. “It’s definitely one of the most unique trophies in all of golf. It’s certainly nice to have something like that rather than just a Waterford Crystal vase.
“It shows the history of the tournament.”
And that’s why the Conquistadores are bringing it back for their latest venture in Tucson professional golf.
“It’s just so recognizable,” said Judy McDermott, the executive director of the Conquistadores. “We’re very happy to have it back.”
So are the players.
Triplett and Strange aren’t the only ones who hold the trophy in special regard.
Jeff Sluman, who won the Tucson Chrysler Classic in 1997, said his helmet is also on display at his house and a favorite of his visitors.
“My friends come down in the basement and look at it,” Sluman said. “It’s one of the most recognizable pieces down there.”
Sluman, like most of the other champs, put the trophy on his head after winning it. However, it’s best to do so carefully.
Mickelson received a cut putting it on one year because of an inside screw and didn’t put it on the next two times he won the tournament.
“I remember standing next to the green, and they asked me if I minded them putting the helmet on me during the ceremony,” Sluman recalled.
“For some reason, I thought it was going to be fitted to my head. It definitely wasn’t. I think it went over my head and was resting on the bridge of my nose.
“I had to hold it up on both sides so I could see.”
Sluman didn’t mind that it may have looked a little silly when he put it on.
Truth be told, no one does.
“You are never so happy to put that helmet on as when you win,” said Larry Mize, who won in 1993. “I guess I looked a little goofy when I put it on. I’ve got mine in the bookcase in my home in Columbus, Georgia. I like that trophy a lot. It’s unique and adds to how special the event is.”
When Janzen, also a two-time U.S. Open winner earned his helmet — his first win on the PGA Tour — he got hit by the same screw that got Mickelson.
“You have to be careful when you put it on,” Janzen said. “I remember the helmet being pretty big, and it’s got that screw that sticks out on the one side. I just remember I was excited to win my first tournament, and I didn’t know anything about protocol at the ceremony. They asked me to put it on, and I put it on.
“It’s very prominently displayed in my trophy case at home and guests at my house still like to put the helmet on.”
Contact reporter Daniel Berk at dberk@tucson.com or 573-4330. On Twitter: @DSBerk