Unlike Jack Nicklaus, Who Once Called It ‘Disrespectful,’ Brian Harman Follows Tiger Woods and Many Others in Fulfilling Open Championship Tradition

Brian Harman had the dreamiest week at the Open Championship. In his biggest ever career win, he took home the famous Claret Jug to keep until next year. Moreover, the PGA Tour pro walked away with a whopping $3 million after grabbing his unattested victory at the rain-soaked field course in Liverpool. And now it’s time for him to celebrate!

As the championship ends, celebration begins. Brian Harman is excited to return home and share the victory with his family. However, his celebrations include a plan for the famous Claret Jug too. However, this particular tradition of his would have golf legends like Tiger Woods, who would approve, and Jack Nicklaus, who would never dare consider it!

The celebration debate: Nicklaus’ disapproval and Harman’s plans

For many years now the Claret Jug has witnessed a longstanding tradition. Golf greats like Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Cameron Smith, and others have made a ritual of drinking out of the Claret Jug after winning the trophy. And Harman wishes to uphold that tradition!

After winning the title, in the post-match interview, the 36-year-old thanked his family, fans, and R&A for putting the event together. Soon after, he spoke about his plans after he went home and added, “I am going to have me a couple pints out of this here trophy.” While Harman may see this as a way of keeping tradition alive, Nicklaus would certainly not approve!

Jack Nicklaus prioritizes keeping the trophy clean and maintaining its dignity. He once explained that he does not like putting anything in the Claret Jug. He found the action disrespectful. Nicklaus fits the thought into an analogy, equating the Open trophy with a newborn baby. Instead, when he won the trophy, he kept it with himself to only represent what it symbolized: Champion Golfer of the Year!

Also Read: Records Galore Alongside $3M Payday as Tiger Woods Level Dominance Earns Brian Harman a Special Place in History

Well, Harman certainly does not share the golf legend’s views. A few hours after his interview, the PGA Tour player turned analyst, Colt Knost, took to Instagram and posted a picture of the Georgia Bulldog happily chugging beer from the Claret Jug. And he certainly earned that right after his record-breaking performance in Liverpool.

Brian Harman went from the underdog to the record breaking champion at The Open

In a landmark victory, the American pro golfer won the championship with an incredible margin of six shots. He defeated legends like Cameron Young and John Rahm. Post his win, the one-time major winner opened up about how he was proud that his slow start at the event did not hamper the last day’s victory.

On Sunday, he began with a five-shot lead and only went on to increase that over the 18 holes, ending with a final 13-under 271 score. He also set a record by using the minimum number of putts (106) to win the Open Championship. Harman’s last win before this was at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2017, and he has gone six years and 167 tournaments searching for his next. Oh, and find it he did!

It will certainly be interesting to see how Brian Harman progresses from here. And even if Nicklaus and Harman have different ideas of celebrating wins, the recent victor will undoubtedly look to cement a legacy just like the 83-year-old did! However, which of the two celebrations would you prefer? Tell us in the comments below.

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