The Claret Jug is the trophy that every male golfer dreams of holding aloft. Presented to the winner of the Open Championship, it recognises the “champion golfer of the year.”
But despite being arguably golf’s most famous prize, the Golf Champion Trophy – its formal name – was not originally awarded to the Open’s winner.
Though golf’s original championship dates to 1860, the Claret Jug did not exist until 1872.
When Willie Park Snr became the first “champion golfer” at Prestwick, he was presented with the Challenge Belt, made of Moroccan leather and embellished with a silver buckle and emblems.
At the time, the rules of the Open stated that the winner “shall always leave the belt with the treasurer of the club … until it becomes the property of the winner by being won three times in succession.”
That eventually happened in 1870, when Young Tom Morris won the 11th Open at Prestwick aged just 19. With no prize to present, the championship was not held in 1871.
Finally, an agreement was reached in 1872 between the Open’s three host venues – Prestwick, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (St Andrews). They agreed that the winner would receive a gold medal and that each club would contribute £10 to the cost of a new trophy: a silver Claret Jug.
Young Tom became “champion golfer” again in 1872, but, as the Claret Jug was not ready, he was instead awarded a medal inscribed: “The Golf Champion Trophy.”
The original Claret Jug was made by Mackay Cunningham & Company of Edinburgh.
It stands at 20¾ inches tall with its base and 5½ inches in diameter at its widest (the base is 7¼ inches in diameter). It weighs roughly 5½ pounds and is made of 92.5 percent sterling silver.
For more information on the Claret Jug, click HERE.
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