The Claret Jug is one of the most coveted trophies in the golf world. It is awarded to the winner of the Open Championship. The Claret Jug was first awarded in 1872, in place of the original Challenge Belt, and has not changed ever since. So, it’s a given that thousands of players have placed their lips on the rim of the silverware as it traveled all across the globe.

Despite all the hygiene issues associated with it, PGA Tour pros like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have drunk alcohol out of it. The 2014 champion, McIlroy, had Jagermeister, with plenty of beer and wine in it. While Woods stated that although the trophy never left his house, he did drink a lot of liquor in it. And of course, not to forget a rather expensive affair. The 2013 Champion, Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, poured in a 1990 bottle of Romanee Conti wine worth $40,000 and drank out of his The Open silverware. Turns out, the World No. 2 too followed in their footsteps, and well, he is proud of it.

Xander Schauffele first won the PGA Championship, which was followed by a win at the Open Championship this season, winning both the Claret Jug and the Wanamaker Trophy. Schauffele drank out of both trophies. From Wanamaker, he drank champagne, but from Claret Jug, his choice was distinct.

In a recent interview posted by the SiriusXM PGA Tour, the interviewer stated that the Claret Jug is for sophisticated parties, and the Wanamaker is pretty much like a punch bowl. To this, the World No. 4 replied, “I drank tequila out of the Claret Jug. I don’t know how sophisticated that is. But it happened.” While Xander Schauffele barely drinks alcohol, upon winning the Open Championship, it had to be an exception.

For his first drink from Claret Jug, Schauffele Sr. chose red wine, “We’re trying to find good wine. It’s a Claret Jug, no beer, that’s sacrilege. I’d rather put cider in it.” While other players have tasted food in the trophy too, Jack Nicklaus was among the very few players who did not put anything in it.

The Claret Jug only symbolizes Champion Golfer of the Year for Jack Nicklaus

When Zach Johnson won the Open Championship in 2015, he ate corn, instead of drinking alcohol from the trophy. On the other hand, John Daly, who won the Claret Jug in 1995, was not yet addicted to drinking back then and enjoyed a huge scoop of chocolate ice cream out of it. Other pros have enjoyed Champagne, Coke, Pepsi, cheap beer and wine, milk, and good old-fashioned water in the Claret Jug. However, for Jack Nicklaus, it was different.

For the 3X Open Champion, it was as special as holding a newborn baby in his arms. He put nothing inside it. According to him, it is disrespectful to drink or eat anything from it. Although he has seen a lot of players do it in the past, his admiration stood unwavering for the trophy. “They cleaned it out before I got there, and I didn’t want to dirty it up. I never used the Claret Jug for anything other than what it symbolized – Champion Golfer of the Year,” he said.

What are your thoughts on the drinking out of the trophies tradition? Let us know in the comments section below!