The Open: How long Scottie Scheffler can keep Claret Jug after being caught off guard
Scottie Scheffler has etched his name into golfing history by claiming the coveted Claret Jug at The Open. The American won the historic major for the first time at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
Scheffler, who finished T7 at last year's tournament, soared to victory at Portrush with a three-under-par round on Sunday. The 29-year-old finished on 17-under at The Open, four shots ahead of runner-up Harris English.
Scheffler, who is already a two-time Masters winner and clinched the PGA Championship in May, is no stranger to picking up trophies. However, the Claret Jug seemed to fascinate Scheffler shortly after his victory.
In a video by The R&A, the champion golfer remarked on the trophy's unexpected weight. He turned to a person carrying the Claret Jug and said: "It's light, isn't it?"
The footage tracked Scheffler's journey after his Open triumph, from heartfelt celebrations to expressing gratitude to staff and engaging with the press. Upon closer examination of his newly acquired trophy, Scheffler spotted an intriguing detail.
Having inspected the trophy's past engravings, Scheffler shared: "The first thing I noticed was this, '2020: No championship owing to global pandemic.'"
The Open has awarded Scheffler a replica of the iconic Claret Jug, which he must return to The R&A next year. The tradition of players keeping the same replica trophy for 12 months began in 1928.
For the coming year, Scheffler has the privilege of showcasing the trophy and taking it to events, but the new Open champion must hand back the silverware before next year's tournament.
The original Claret Jug is on permanent display at The R&A. Alongside the Claret Jug, Open champions are also presented with a gold champion's medal, which Scheffler will retain.
The Claret Jug has been awarded since 1873. It was commissioned in the previous year, and although Thomas Morris' name was the first to be engraved on it, Tom Kidd was the inaugural champion to lift the trophy when he triumphed 152 years ago.
Scheffler's recent string of successes has led some to compare him with Tiger Woods, who has won The Open on three occasions. Yet, Scheffler dismissed such comparisons as premature during his post-championship press conference.
"I still think they're a bit silly," Scheffler admitted. "Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf.
"He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf. I don't focus on that kind of stuff."
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