What does the winner of the Major Championship get? We take a look in this piece.
5 Perks Of Winning The Open Championship
The winner’s name is etched into the history books but there are a few more benefits to winning The Open Championship (opens in new tab) as well.
In this day and age, winners of any pro events, but especially majors, walk away with no shortage of exemptions and prize money. So without further ado, here are some of the perks this week’s champion will receive.
5 Perks Of Winning The Open Championship
1. Claret Jug
First thing to mention is undoubtedly the prestige of winning the oldest Major Championship in golf. That in itself, and the name being etched into history, is a perk.
Adding to that the winner also receives arguably the best trophy in golf too in the Claret Jug (opens in new tab). The winner gets to keep it until the next year’s tournament (or, in Shane Lowry’s case, keep for two years due to a global health pandemic). Once the winner returns the original trophy they are given a replica to keep.
Related: Best Trophies In Golf (opens in new tab)
2. Gold Medal
Tony Jacklin with the Claret Jug and Gold Medal in 1969 (Getty Images)
The Open originally gave a Challenge Belt to its winner, but this was permanently given to Young Tom Morris after he won three consecutive tournaments.
It was replaced by the Gold Medal from 1872, which winners still receive. The Claret Jug was first awarded in 1873.
3. Winner’s cheque
The winner in 2021 will receive a winner’s cheque (opens in new tab) of over $2m for the very first time.
The 2021 Open Championship will have its largest ever purse with the Champion Golfer of the Year pocketing $2.07m dollars from the $11.5m prize money.
We expect this to continue to be the case in future events.
“We have increased the prize fund for the Open this year and believe that it fully reflects the championship’s stature in world sport,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A.
Related: Open Championship TV Coverage 2021 (opens in new tab)
4. Exemptions
The Open winner will also be guaranteed…
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