Do players return the Claret Jug after winning The Open Championship? British Open winning rules explored

The winner of the Open Championship has to return to the Claret Jug after one year. Brian Harman won the 2023 Open Championship and will be returning the trophy soon before the 152nd edition of the tournament.

Lately, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which organizes the Open Championship, has made the return of the Claret Jug a choreographed ceremony. Here are the videos of the past two years, 2022 and 2023:

However, the winners don't remain empty-handed, as they are given a full-size replica of the Claret Jug and can order up to three smaller replicas.

The Claret Jug, officially known as the Golf Champion Trophy, has one of the biggest stature in professional sports.

It weighs roughly 5.5 pounds and measures 7.25 inches in diameter. Length-wise, it measures 20.75 inches with its base and weighs roughly 5.5 pounds. Its base measures 5.5 inches in diameter at its widest whereas its base measures 7.25 inches in diameter.

The Claret Jug was first given in the year 1873 to Tom Kidd, 13 years after the first Open Championship was played. However, the first name to be engraved on the trophy was that of Tom Morris. Morris won the Open in 1872 but received a gold medal as the trophy wasn't ready.

Before 1873, the winners of the Open Championship received theChallenge Belt, a red Moroccan leather belt with silver buckle. The belt has to be returned after a year and could only be won if a player won the tournament for three consecutive years. Young Tom Morris won the belt permanently after winning the Open Championship in 1870.

Amusingly, as the tournament didn't have anything to give to the winner of the next year's tournament, there was no tournament in 1871.

Till 1927, the winner of the Open Championship used to take the original trophy home for a year and had to return it for the next year. However, the tradition was changed by R&A as it decided to put the original trophy on permanent display. Since then, winners of the tournament have received replicas.

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The Open Championship's winning rules explored

The Open championship is a 72-hole tournament with a cut after 36 holes. The top 70 players and ties make the cut. The player with the lowest score in the field after four rounds(72 holes) is declared the winner.

In the event of a tie after four rounds, the playoff is held to determine the winner. The players tied have to play on holes No. 3, 16, 17, and 18 and the player with the lowest total wins. In case of another tie, players will play sudden death format.

Here's a quick recap of the Open Championship's past winners in the last 50 years:

• 2023 - Brian Harman (United States)
• 2022 - Cameron Smith (Australia)
• 2021 - Collin Morikawa (United States)
• 2020 - Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• 2019 - Shane Lowry (Republic of Ireland)
• 2018 - Francesco Molinari (Italy)
• 2017 - Jordan Spieth (United States)
• 2016 - Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
• 2015 - Zach Johnson (United States)
• 2014 - Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
• 2013 - Phil Mickelson (United States)
• 2012 - Ernie Els (South Africa)
• 2011 - Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland)
• 2010 - Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)
• 2009 - Stewart Cink (United States)
• 2008 - Pádraig Harrington (Republic of Ireland)
• 2007 - Pádraig Harrington (Republic of Ireland)
• 2006 - Tiger Woods (United States)
• 2005 - Tiger Woods (United States)
• 2004 - Todd Hamilton (United States)
• 2003 - Ben Curtis (United States)
• 2002 - Ernie Els (South Africa)
• 2001 - David Duval (United States)
• 2000 - Tiger Woods (United States)
• 1999 - Paul Lawrie (Scotland)
• 1998 - Mark O'Meara (United States)
• 1997 - Justin Leonard (United States)
• 1996 - Tom Lehman (United States)
• 1995 - John Daly (United States)
• 1994 - Nick Price (Zimbabwe)
• 1993 - Greg Norman (Australia)
• 1992 - Nick Faldo (England)
• 1991 - Ian Baker-Finch (Australia)
• 1990 - Nick Faldo (England)
• 1989 - Mark Calcavecchia (United States)
• 1988 - Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
• 1987 - Nick Faldo (England)
• 1986 - Greg Norman (Australia)
• 1985 - Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
• 1984 - Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
• 1983 - Tom Watson (United States)
• 1982 - Tom Watson (United States)
• 1981 - Bill Rogers (United States)
• 1980 - Tom Watson (United States)
• 1979 - Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
• 1978 - Jack Nicklaus (United States)
• 1977 - Tom Watson (United States)
• 1976 - Johnny Miller (United States)
• 1975 - Tom Watson (United States)
• 1974 - Gary Player (South Africa)
• 1973 - Tom Weiskopf (United States)