Barbara Nicklaus, the wife of 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus for nearly 55 years, has been named as the 2015 Bob Jones Award winner by the US Golf Association.

The award, presented annually since 1955, pays tribute to someone who demonstrates spirit, character and respect for the sport and she follows her husband Jack, the 1975 winner, in taking the honour.

Past women’s winners have included LPGA pioneer Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1957 and Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam in 2012. Other recipients included Arnold Palmer in 1971, Ben Hogan in 1976, actors Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in 1978 and the late Payne Stewart last year.

Mrs Nicklaus, who has five children and 22 grandchildren, will receive the trophy in a June ceremony at this year’s US Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle for her work with youth-related charitable causes.