The Champion Golfer of the Year earns a big paycheck and of course the Claret Jug.
The Champion Golfer of the Year, aka the winner of the British Open, earns a large sum of money, many accolades and the historic Claret Jug. OK, not the Claret Jug. We can explain.
Kisner told Golfweek that the Augusta National staff notified them this is believed to be a first.
As the Champion Golfer of the Year and with possession of the Claret Jug for one year, Brian Harman has been checking off some potential firsts with the famed silver trophy awarded annually to the winner of the British Open.
Harman took the Claret Jug to Augusta National Golf Club in late October during the weekend of the annual Florida/Georgia football game. Fellow Bulldog Kevin Kisner and a couple other friends joined him on the trip.
“Just bro-ing out up there,” Harman said.
Kisner told Golfweek that the Augusta National staff told them it is believed to be the first time that a winner has ever brought the Claret Jug to the home of the Masters.
“I can’t verify if it’s the only time it’s been there and so I feel bad saying that,” Harman tells Golfweek. “If they want to say that, that’s great.”
But he was more confident of another potential first with the Jug.
“It’s been inside my tractor,” Harman tells Golfweek. “I don’t know if it’s ever been inside a tractor. We took it down there and rode around for a minute just so we could say we did it.”
Brian Harman looks on on the 18th hole on Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Harman may need to check with Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champ and avid farmer, about being first.
But the highlight of hanging with the Jug so far for Harman, he said, was being honored on the field during Georgia’s home game against Ole Miss in early November, a night game at Sanford Field.
“That was cool because my wife and kid were with me,” he said to Golfweek.
“That was probably the highlight of the partying with it so far,” he said Thursday after his opening round at The Sentry. “It’s quite the party trick. It’s been a lot of fun to possess for a year.”
And enjoy it, he has.
“It’s an antique, it’s a relic,” Harman said Thursday. “It’s like a golfing past.”
He has already proven that his career is nothing to be embarrassed about.
ROME — Brian Harman remembers all the phone calls from Team USA captains, breaking the news that he hadn’t made the team. There was one from Jim Furyk in 2018 ahead of the Ryder Cup in Paris. Harman was heartbroken but he also understood.
“I wouldn’t have picked me either,” he said.
Steve Stricker called in 2021 ahead of the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and while Harman thought he had a more legitimate chance to make that team, he understood that he hadn’t done enough to make himself stand out. More disappointment last year when he failed to make the U.S. Presidents Cup team led by his good friend Davis Love III.
“I’ve never not gotten picked, and felt like I truly deserved a spot,” he said.
He removed any question of doubt this year when he won the British Open in resounding fashion, his first victory on the PGA Tour since 2017, and earned an automatic selection to Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup team. At age 36, Harman is at once both the oldest player on Team USA and a Ryder Cup rookie. Johnson, for one, always has recognized something of himself in Harman, his St. Simons Island, Georgia, neighbor.
“He is a bulldog and he is feisty,” Johnson said. “Just tough, relentless, gritty and he wants his back against the wall. So I don’t know how he’s going to play in the Ryder Cup, but I’d be willing to bet that the best of Brian Harman probably will come out at some point during that week.”
Harman had a decorated junior and amateur career and proved his mettle beating Rickie Fowler in match play at the 2009 NCAA Championship.
Team USA’s Brian Harman carries a flag across the fifth green during a practice day for the Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)
“We’ve never talked about that match,” Harman said during his Wednesday pre-Ryder Cup press conference. “We were college kids. I was trying to beat him; he was trying to beat me. I got the better of him that day. He’s had an incredible career. I’ve done OK.”
As an AT&T commercial put it, just OK is not OK. Harman had won just two times in more than 300 Tour starts before capturing the Claret Jug and earning the moniker of Champion Golfer of the Year. His failure to live up to his hype began to weigh on him.
“If I’m being honest, I was embarrassed,” Harman told The Athletic. “I was embarrassed by my career.”
But winning the British changes the way his career is looked at by fans, media, his peers and by himself. He was tabbed “Brian the Butcher” by the British tabloids, in part for his fondness for hunting and the way he skewered the field. He chuckled at the nickname so much so that his wife threw him a Brian the Butcher theme.
“We had T-shirts, golf balls, and one of the rotating cameras where you can hold a Brian the Butcher picture up and take pictures. It was fun,” he said.
But hunting has taken a back seat to prepping for the Ryder Cup. He’s waited a long time for this chance. He accepts the fact that he likely will be heckled again as he was at the British Open, where the local faithful were rooting a little too hard and openly for England’s Tommy Fleetwood to come out on top. Harman proved he can handle the big moments and said the naysayers only fueled his fire to win. But even he knows that being in the crucible of Ryder Cup competition is a new frontier for him.
“It’s kind of like if you’re trying to give someone advice if they’re about to have their first child,” he said. “There’s nothing you can tell them to get them ready for it. No, your life is going to change, it’s going to be really hard, but you’ll get through it. There’s lots of people that have done it, and it’s up to you how you handle it.”
Brooks Koepka is another one who admires the way Harman plays with a chip on his shoulder.
“I just love that. Never gives up. Always battling to the end and ready to prove people wrong,” Koepka said.
He has already proven that his career is nothing to be embarrassed about.
“It’s so cool. It warms my heart seeing everyone here.”
Brian Harman received a hero’s welcome when he arrived home to McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport in Georgia on Friday.
Fellow major winner Davis Love III, PGA Tour pro and fellow Georgia alum Harris English and Harman’s swing coach, Justin Parsons, were among more than 50 friends and fans that surprised The Champion Golfer of the Year upon his arrival.
“It’s so cool. It warms my heart seeing everyone here,” Harman told PGA Tour.com. “My wife played it off pretty good. I was thinking we would just scoot home and not see anybody, so I’m thrilled everyone came out. It’s really touching.”
Harman, who won for the first time in more than six years on Sunday and collected his first major championship, stepped off the plane holding his youngest of three children in his left arm and the Claret Jug, the famed trophy that the winner of the British Open is awarded custody for one year, in his right.
Harman hung around and posed for pictures, signed autographs and drank a Coors Light from the Claret Jug.
“There’s booze in there, sorry,” Harman said with a grin in a video posted to social media by the PGA Tour.
Young fans settled to touch the trophy.
The Champion Golfer of the Year has returned ❤️@HarmanBrian was welcomed by friends and fans when he arrived home in Sea Island. pic.twitter.com/MmpMSY2q0d
Harman flew back to the U.S. early Monday morning following a celebration the night before at Hickory’s Smokehouse, not far from where he won the British Open at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England. Harman met up with his wife and three kids, who watched his victory from her family’s home in the Syracuse, New York, area.
“The last three or four days have been really nice,” he said. “We’ve been secluded up there by the lake. But it’s nice to get back and see a bunch of familiar faces and get to celebrate with them.”
Harman has called St. Simons Island, part of a chain of barrier islands nicknamed the Golden Isles, for most of his career. Based on his arrival home, the party is just beginning for Harman’s career-defining moment in this picturesque corner of southern Georgia – halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida.
Brian Harman’s stellar performance to lift the Claret Jug and claim the 2023 Open Championship last week provided a break from the ongoing news surrounding the pending deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
However, during Sunday’s final round, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and associate Amanda Staveley met with R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England. The news was first reported by the Telegraph and confirmed by Golfweek, though R&A officials would not provide comment on a private discussion.
Al-Rumayyan and Staveley were secretly brought to the property with the help of an R&A sponsor, but reports state the meeting was more “symbolic than substantive.”
Slumbers spoke about Saudi money and its place in golf last week ahead of the opening round of the final men’s major championship of the year, saying he was “very open” to talk to “various potential sponsors.”
“We have a number of large corporate partners that help us make this thing happen. I think the world has changed in the last year. It’s not just golf. You’re seeing it in (soccer). You’re seeing it in F1. You’re seeing it in cricket. I’m sure tennis won’t be that far behind,” said Slumbers. “The world of sport has changed dramatically in the last 12 months, and it is not feasible for the R&A or golf to just ignore what is a societal change on a global basis. We will be considering within all the parameters that we look at all the options that we have.’’
Newcastle United’s chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (L) and minority owner Amanda Staveley (C) and Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer (R) before a match at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023. (Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP)
Due to the PIF being its primary and longtime sole investor, LIV Golf was criticized as just another way for Saudi Arabia to “sportswash” its controversial human rights record, same with the PIF’s purchase of Premier League team Newcastle United, of which Al-Rumayyan is the chairman and Staveley is a co-investor.
A big win for Brian Harman means a big jump in all the rankings.
Now he’s in prime position to make captain Zach Johnson’s 2023 Ryder Cup team.
Harman, whose odds to win the British Open were 150-to-1, was ranked 26th in the Official World Golf Ranking heading into the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. After his first major championship victory, he checks in at No. 10 following Monday’s update.
The biggest number for him, however, may be the No. 3 next to his name in the latest Ryder Cup standings for Team USA.
Harman was 20th in the standings for the American squad but his British Open win vaulted him to third, behind Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark and one ahead of Brooks Koepka. The top six guys on this list – Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are Nos. 5 and 6 – earn automatic spots on the team. The next six (Nos. 7 through 12) will be captain’s picks.
In the aftermath of his win Sunday, Harman was asked about the Ryder Cup.
“I’m going to kick that can down the road a little bit. I’m going to enjoy this,” he said. “The next thing for me will be our [FedEx Cup] Playoffs, what I’ll be looking forward to.”
After 36 holes at Royal Liverpool, just after he shot a 6-under round to get to 10 under to take sole possession of the lead, Harman was asked: Do you see this week as your stage to make a case for the Ryder Cup team?
His reply last Friday night:
“I’ve spent I don’t know how many years chasing. … it always seems it’s right there at the end and I end up in between 13th and 18th on the list and I’m hoping for a pick. It would mean the world to me to play on the Ryder Cup team. I think I would do very well.”
At that time, Harman knew he was only halfway to the Claret Jug so he tried to then downplay the Ryder Cup chatter by adding: “But I’m not thinking about that at all.”
Now, it’s safe to say, he’s free to think about it all he wants, as his spot on the roster seems secure.
Brian Harman loves the outdoors and not just for playing golf. Long known as an avid hunter, Harman has some land that requires tending, and he’s got just the machine for the job.
“I had a nice week a couple weeks ago and I bought a new tractor for my hunting place, so I’ll get home and I’ll be on the tractor mowing grass in the next few weeks, so I’m excited about that,” Harman said Sunday in the media center with Claret Jug by his side, basking in the glow of his victory at the 2023 Open Championship.
The assembled media at Royal Liverpool peppered Harman with questions all week about hunting, one of his main off-course pursuits, but Sunday’s media session also included talk of his big new piece of equipment.
“So that’s going to be the reward, you’re going ride your tractor?,” one scribe asked.
“Yeah. Just put my phone away and go get on the tractor,” he said.
“Could you tell us a little bit more about your tractor, please?”
“I haven’t seen it yet,” Harman said. “It’s on order. It’s a 105 horse Kubota tractor and it’s going to be a pretty one.”
“What color?
“Orange.”
“How many acres will you mow?”
“Let’s see, we’ve got about 25 acres of food plots that need, and, gosh, I don’t know how many miles of roads, but I’d call it probably 40 acres total that needs to get mowed.”
“I’ve never known an Open Champion to celebrate by mowing grass on a tractor,” said a reporter.
“I’ve got a lot of layers, man. I’m like an onion.”
Get your British Open gear to commemorate the 151st playing of The Open Championship.
With the Open Championship come and gone it’s the perfect time to do a bit of shopping to get you through the rest of the golf season.
As always, major championship gear is some of the most coveted gear amongst golf fans. Complete your 2023 major championship gear with one or more of one of our favorite pieces of Open Championship gear to commemorate the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake.
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While you’re at it, be sure to check out our lists of some of our favorite items from the previous majors in 2023: U.S. Open | PGA Championship | Masters
HOYLAKE, England — After Saturday’s third round, NBC’s Cara Banks asked leader Brian Harman what he credited his remarkable putting performance to, but Harman was holding his cards close to the vest. He didn’t want to give away any trade secrets.
“It’s a silly looking mirror where it’s got like a little better release pattern,” said Harman, who couldn’t recall what tournament he picked it up but pulled it out of the barn of his farmhouse recently. “I was just kind of cutting my putts too much. I spent a lot of time just feeling the ball, almost hitting like a baby draw with my putter, and it’s been really, really good the last month or so.”
Prior to using the device, which he didn’t name but it appears to be the Short Game Gains Putting Mirror, Harman said he had been considering benching his TaylorMade Spider putter, but said that it won’t be leaving the bag any time soon after his putting performance this week. He took just 23 putts Thursday and 26 on Friday and his 106 total putts were the fewest by the winner of the British Open in the last 20 years.
Harman led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (+11.57). He finally missed a putt on Sunday from inside 10 feet but he still went an impressive 58 for 59 putting from 10 feet and in. That is rolling your rock.
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HOYLAKE, England — The Long and Winding Road is a favorite Beatles song from the beloved group out of nearby Liverpool but it could also describe Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a major championship during the last nine years.
McIlroy, who won his third of four majors at Royal Liverpool in 2014, shot a final-round 3-under 68 to finish at 6-under 278 and tied for sixth place.
“Solid performance,” McIlroy said. “Improved on my score every day. Yeah, I missed a few putts yesterday. Felt like I putted a bit better today. It was just hard. I needed to go out and shoot something 63, 64-ish, but really hard to do that in those conditions.”
McIlroy raced out to three birdies in a row beginning at the third hole to mount a bit of a charge but a bogey at No. 10 and another at No. 16 were killers.
“I got off to a really good start but it’s just hard to keep that going,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy missed the cut at the Masters, finished T-7 at the PGA Championship and was second at the U.S. Open.
“Solid performance, not spectacular, but a lot of optimism going into the rest of the year,” he said. “I can’t sit here and be too frustrated. You think about my performances in the majors between like 2016 and 2019, it’s a lot better than that.”
While there were encouraging signs along the way, the winless draught persists.
“Never saw this coming,” said NBC’s Paul Azinger, winner of the 1993 PGA Championship. “When he won his fourth major, it looked like the sky was the limit, he might win nine or 10.”
Jack Nicklaus predicted that McIlroy, 25 at the time, was on track to win 18 majors. Yet, nine years later, for all his successes, he’s still stuck on four. Who would’ve thought he’d go 34 majors without a major during his prime – all the while winning 15 Tour titles, including the Players Championship, two FedEx Cup titles and multiple stints at world No. 1. He’s recorded 20 top-10 finishes at the majors, including seven of his last eight.
McIlroy said he won’t dwell on this being another lost year at the majors and is focused on what is still to come.
“I think about trying to go and win a fourth FedEx Cup here in a couple weeks’ time, go try and win a fifth Race to Dubai, go and win a fifth Ryder Cup,” he said. “I just keep looking forward.”
In 266 days, he can start all over and resume his majors quest at the Masters.
