Claret Jug makes neat backyard visit
The tour, as the saying goes, practically was in my backyard.
Or, in this case, the Claret Jug literally was in my backyard.
It requires no grand insight into golf to realize I will never win the British Open, golf ’s oldest major championship. I’m just trying to beat my 17year-old son in our occasional matches, and that’s not working out too well.
So it was quite cool, and a bit overwhelming, to hold the historic Claret Jug on Sunday. As Jack Nicklaus once said, “It’s like holding a newborn baby.”
The small, silver trophy is on a cross-country U.S. tour, to promote NBC and Golf Channel’s coverage of the Open Championship in July. Saturday’s itinerary included a stop in Half Moon Bay, with another event Sunday night outside Sacramento.
On the way, thanks to a gracious offer from a Golf Channel public-relations official, the trophy made a brief visit to my East Bay house. The truck carrying the trophy was hard to miss, with an oversized image of the Claret Jug on both sides, tucked between large photographs of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.
First, some background: The Claret Jug officially is called the Golf Champion Trophy. Originally, the winner of the Open Championship (which first was played in 1860) earned the Challenge Belt, made of Moroccan leather; the silver Claret Jug became the prize in 1873.
The original Claret Jug remains on display at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland, as it has since 1928. The Open winner receives a replica, which he must return after one year; the trophy touring the U.S. also is a replica.
Sunday’s visit was akin to a quick trip through the game’s history, from Young Tom Morris to Henrik Stenson, last year’s champion. Just think about some of the names engraved on the Claret Jug: Nicklaus and Palmer, Watson and Trevino, Woods and Mickelson.
Bay Area fans will have a chance to see the Claret Jug on Tuesday. It will be on display in Willie Mays Plaza from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., before the Dodgers-Giants game.
The trophy is accorded proper respect; it was carefully packed into a sturdy crate upon departure Sunday, gently planted in the passenger seat and firmly strapped in with a seat belt.