The Claret Jug on display in front of the clubhouse ahead of the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. (Photo: Liam Allan/R&A via Getty Images)
The Claret Jug was not awarded to the first Open Championship winner. The very first Open was held in October of 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland, but the trophy hadn’t been created yet.
Willie Park won that inaugural Open and was awarded a Challenge Belt.
In 1872, the three host golf clubs of the Open – Prestwick, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club – agreed to chip in to pay for a silver Claret Jug.
Young Tom Morris won it that year but the trophy wasn’t ready yet. When it finally was ready to be awarded in 1873, Tom Kidd became the first to take the trophy home after winning but it was revealed that his name was second to be engraved on it. Morris’ name went on first as the decision to commission the trophy was being made right at the time he was winning the title a year prior.
