07/15/2025
A snippet from THE GHS NEWSWIRE:
When Young Tom Morris won his fourth Open Championship in 1872, he was the first to receive a gold medal for his efforts. The Claret Jug trophy was not yet ready. From that year until 1891, the medals were large ovals with a shield and crossed clubs design. An example is the 1874 medal shown at left, won by Mungo Park at Musselburgh Links.
In 1892, when the Open was first played at Muirfield, the medal presented to winner Harold Hilton was a one-off (center). It was created in the same form as the Honorable Company's club championship medal.
The modern circular medal was introduced in 1893. The example shown at right was won by Bobby Locke in 1949 at Royal St George's, the first of his four Open victories. As a side note, the '49 Open came to be known as the "Broken Bottle Open." That story on our website via search function. Enjoy.
