What is the Claret Jug, why is it presented to The Open winner and has it always been the golf major’s prize?

THE Claret Jug is set to be held aloft at Royal Birkdale as the winner of The Open 2017 is revealed.

But how was the trophy introduced to one of golf’s biggest tournaments?

Reuters

Here is all you need to know.

What is the Claret Jug?

The Claret Jug is officially known as the Golf Champion Trophy.

It was made by Mackay Cunningham & Company of Edinburgh and was hallmarked 1873.

The jug was presented for the first time to The Open winner Tom Kidd, the same year.

But 1972 winner Tom Morris Junior was the first man to have his name engraved on it.

Has the Claret Jug always been the trophy presented to The Open winner?

No. The initial prize was called the Challenge Belt and was presented between 1860 and 1972.

The reason the belt was withdrawn is that tournament rules stipulated that whoever won The Open three times in succession would get to keep it.

In 1870, Tom Morris Junior did win three consecutive titles and became the belt's owner.

The following year the tournament was not played and in 1872 a medal was presented to the winner.

The 1872 tournament was played across three clubs - Prestwick, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

The Edinburgh clubs agreed to donate £10 each towards a new trophy, which they agreed would be a claret jug.

In 1873, the Golf Champion Trophy was presented for the first time.