The Open and The Claret Jug

On Monday as I approached the 17th Road green, whilst caddieing on the Old Course St Andrews, I pointed out to my golfer that the Open's Claret Jug Trophy was being photographed on the 18th tee by the R&A's photographer and we might be able to get our pictures taken with it.


Timing is everything and we got lucky, also the photographer was very kind to let us have a few moments with this iconic little trophy that has been in existence since 1873 when it was presented at St Andrews after local golfer Tom Kidd who won with a two round total on the Old Course with 91 + 88 = 179.


Curiously the first name on the Claret Jug belongs to the 1872 Champion, Young Tom Morris. There was no trophy to present the previous year when Young Tom won the 12th Open at Prestwick, for the fourth time in a row, so they inscribed his name before presenting it to Tom Kidd.


Great to see the little trophy up close again and a delightful surprise for the golfers playing their first round on the Old Course St Andrews as the grandstands and infrastructure of the 144th Open Championship are put into place...Fore!


Location: Saint Andrews, Saint Andrews, Fife KY16, UK

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