"Coolest trophy in all of sports"- Defending champion Brian Harman gushes over Claret Jug as he hands it back ahead of 2024 Open Championship

Brian Harman is at the Royal Troon Golf Club to defend his Open Championship title. As the defending champion, his first activity of the week was to return the Claret Jug, the trophy that recognizes the

"Champion Golfer of the Year."

Harman presented the trophy to Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The R&A, the governing body that organizes the final major of the season. The defending champion expressed his appreciation for the Claret Jug and said he was "sad" to have to return it.

"In my opinion, it's the coolest trophy in all of sports," Brian Harman said (via the PGA Tour news service). "So I think it's deserving of all of the pageantry that's involved with it. A little sad to give it back, but I’ll remember everywhere it’s been forever. I’m happy to give it back, happy to be here. Ready to get going."

The Claret Jug is the oldest trophy in the world of golf, and one of the oldest in all sports. It has been awarded to the winner of The Open Championship since 1872, and its first winner was the legendary Young Tom Morris.

The original trophy was retired in 1928, and is currently on display at The Royal & Ancient St. Andrews Golf Club (better known as "The Home of Golf"). The replica currently in use was introduced that same year and the first to receive it was another legend, Walter Hagen.

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A look at Brian Harman's performance at the 2023 Open Championship

Brian Harman began at the 2023 Open Championship with a first round of five birdies and one bogey (67) that left him tied for fourth place, just one stroke off the lead.

In the second round, the eventual champion brought his A-game, as he birdied four consecutive holes on the front nine, before making par on 12 consecutive holes, and closing with an eagle on the 18th.

This performance vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard by five strokes. Given the course and weather conditions at Royal Liverpool, the venue for the 2023 event, this lead proved to be crucial.

On the so-called "Moving Day", Brian Harman carded four birdies and two bogeys for a 69 to maintain his five-shot lead over runner-up Cameron Young.

The final round was played in a steady drizzle, but this did not prevent Harman from extending his lead to six shots. The eventual champion carded a four-birdie, three-bogey 70 in the fourth round to finish at 13-under 271.

Behind Harman, the battle was fierce. Four players finished tied for second, while seven others finished in the top ten. Among them was Tommy Fleetwood (T10), who was playing as the local player, as Royal Liverpool is his home course.

Other big names in the top 10 were Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Max Homa.