What Brian Harman became the first player ever to do at Augusta after winning The Open, ‘I didn’t understand’

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The highlight of Brian Harman’s career to date surely came in 2023 when he won The Open Championship at Hoylake in dominant fashion.

The 2023 Open Championship was perhaps one of the most anticlimactic majors in recent memory. Funnily enough, three players – including Tommy Fleetwood – were tied for the lead after the first round at Royal Liverpool.

But then Brian Harman took charge of the tournament.

He was ahead by five after rounds two and three. And he extended that advantage by a further shot on Sunday as he went on to lift the Claret Jug.

That also presented the American with the chance to make a bit of history at Augusta National.

What Brian Harman became the first player to do at Augusta National after winning The Open Championship

Harman’s hometown is a couple of hours away from the iconic home of The Masters. So it is no surprise that he wanted to take The Open trophy to Augusta after his victory.

But, as he told the On The Mark podcast when asked what the best thing he drank out of the jug was, there was a very special reason why those at the club were so excited to see the Champion Golfer of the Year.

“I took it up to Augusta National, and I was kind of taken aback because everyone, the staff, the head pro, everyone just wanted [to see it]. And it was kind of over the top. I didn’t understand,” he said.

“They were like, ‘look man, it’s never been here, the jug’s never been here’.

“A dear friend of mine who hosted me that week, he had made a hole in one previously, and they had some deal where they get some beautiful bottle of wine, we poured that wine out of the Claret Jug and it was really, really cool. So I got to serve some dear friends that were with me, I got to serve some wine out of the Claret Jug, so that was probably the coolest.”

Why Tiger Woods was surely the most likely candidate to bring the Claret Jug to Augusta National before Brian Harman

It is amazing to think that the hallowed grounds at Augusta National had apparently never seen the Claret Jug until Harman’s win in 2023.

Of course, it would probably be slightly odd had a golfer turned up to the following Masters with The Open Championship trophy.

Even when Tiger Woods was on the cusp of history in 2001, it may have not been the best look had he turned up with the three majors he already had in his possession and then not won The Masters.

Of course, he did win to complete the Tiger Slam.

And given how exclusive the club is, it is probably no surprise that The Open champion is generally not making a visit to Augusta, Georgia at another time of the year.

Nevertheless, it makes Harman’s triumph all the more significant that he could then add his name to Augusta National folklore.