Around 2 p.m. at Royal Birkdale, a futuristic Mercedes-Benz electric concept car rolled onto the grounds and defending Open Champion Henrik Stenson emerged.
The great thing about the Open Championship is that is has so many traditions and the return of “The Jug” is one of them.
Stenson was all smiles as he handed it over to Martin Slumbers, the new Chief Executive of the R&A.
It was not the “real” Claret Jug.
No way they let that treasure go escapading all over the ends of the earth.
The original sits in the clubhouse at St. Andrews, on careful display. St. Andrews took charge of the Jug after the 1927 championship won by Bobby Jones and made the decision after that to present the champions with a replica.
The Claret Jug was made by Edinburgh-based Mackay Cunningham & Company, hallmarked in 1873. The proper named for “The Jug” is “Golf Champion Trophy.”
The first name to appear on it is that of Tom Morris Jr. He won the championship in 1872 but they did not have the Jug for him.
Most of the winners have replicas made so they can have them on display, typically at their homes.
Jack Nicklaus has some of his one display at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter.
So don’t feel bad for Stenson because he had to return what is actually a replica.
No doubt, he’s already got one just like it back home at Lake Nona outside Orlando.
