The Open 2016: Zach Johnson had to ask his shrink for help handing back Claret Jug

ZACH JOHNSON was so desperate to hold onto the Claret Jug he had to ask his shrink for help handing it over.

The American prevailed in a three-way play-off at St Andrews last year and gave back golf’s oldest trophy to R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers today.

But two-time Major winner Johnson joked he had actually been practising letting go of the Jug before at home.

He was pictured cradling it as he slept on his way back to America after last year’s win and, though the attachment wasn’t quite so strong on his way back to these shores, Johnson needed advice from his mind guru on how to return it – after drinking some more wine from it.

Asked about his work with sports psychologist Dr Mo, Johnson said: “We’ll start hashing out a game plan and mental strategies.

“But if anything, what we’ve discussed is actually parting ways with the Claret Jug and controlling my emotions in that way.

“As Dr Mo and I have been talking about, it’s not like I’ve got a one or two-shot lead when I tee it up on Thursday. I’ve got to get the Claret Jug back, which I did. It was not pleasant.

“But I’m staying in a house with some buddies and we had wine out of it. It’s a Claret decanter, so it serves its purpose in that regard too.

“I parted ways emotionally with it at home. I practised!

“I’m kidding, but it was bittersweet – more sweet – but the fact you know you’ve got to give it back, you know it’s coming.

“I guess a portion of that sweetness is you still have an opportunity to get it back yourself.

“It’s just so much fun having the ability to have that Claret Jug for a portion of your life.”