‘We will be drinking out of it again!’: Cameron Smith’s Claret Jug vow
The Champion Golfer of the Year often drinks from the Claret Jug and Cameron Smith wants to keep the tradition going a second year in succession on Merseyside
Open champion Cameron Smith is looking to drink from the Claret Jug again at Royal Liverpool.
The Australian, 12 months on from his famous victory at St Andrews, said he’d already told friends they would be soon be supping from golf’s most famous trophy – as he looks to become the first back-to-back winner of The Open since Padraig Harrington.
“It would be nice. That is what I have been saying to my mates, that it will only be a week and we will be drinking out of it (the Claret Jug) again,” the Australian revealed.
“You never know, sometimes you can play your best golf at major championships and still come fourth or fifth. Hopefully, it is another week like last year and I can be back with the trophy.
“I want that thing back so bad.”
Smith admitted it was a tough moment to let go of the trophy, after handing it back to R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers following his year-long reign as Champion Golfer of the Year.
“It wasn’t hard to hand it back, like I was okay with letting it go, but it was a bit of a moment that you don’t think about. Then all of a sudden it is there and you want it back,” he added.
Smith put together a glorious final round on Sunday to win by a single shot from Cameron Young, while also overcoming Rory McIlroy to secure his maiden major championship.
Since then, he has gone on to join the LIV Golf tour and tasted more success. The Australian was the winner at LIV Golf London earlier this month at the Centurion Club – his second success in the Saudi-financed league.
Meanwhile, McIlroy arrives after winning the Genesis Scottish Open by a shot from Bob MacIntyre. Smith said he was looking forward to resuming the duel with the 2014 champion down the stretch of Sunday.
“It would be a good story for you guys to write about for sure! Like I said, there are plenty of guys that, given their week, can be right up there on Sunday afternoon,” he said.
“I am sure Rory will be one of them. He has played great golf the last few months, and it looked like he finally got one on the head which may open the floodgates. It would be a cool story, for sure!”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
