Brian Harman will ‘forever’ remember his Claret Jug moments as British Open champion

TROON, Scotland — Arriving at Royal Troon to defend his British Open title, Brian Harman recalled the moment that being “Champion Golfer of the Year’’ moved him most.

It wasn’t while appearing on a late-night television interview show, or at a gala or awards dinner, or anywhere very glamorous at all.

It was the middle of nowhere, on his farm in Georgia, this past winter.

“I had one day, I was at my farm and it’s wintertime and I’m riding my four-wheeler,’’ Harman said Monday, shortly after giving the Claret Jug back to the Royal & Ancient officials after his year with the cherished chalice. “I just kind of like had a moment where it’s just me. It’s cold, and it was just like I was so happy that I was there. It’s like, this is just really nice. It’s nice to be The Open champion and still be doing the same thing that I would have been doing otherwise.

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“It’s nice being in a place where no one’s there, no one knows who you are, no one can get in touch with you. As golfers, we spend so much time playing in front of people. I think a lot of us kind of crave going to a place where there’s no one watching, there’s nothing. You’re just there. I don’t know if that makes sense or not.

“It’s somewhere to disappear. Somewhere to disappear and just really enjoy time.’’

Harman said he “drank some unusually expensive wine and some unusually exceptional bourbon out of’’ the Claret Jug before turning it in Monday.

“It was a little sad to give it back, but I’ll remember everywhere it’s been forever,’’ he said. “In my opinion, it’s the coolest trophy in all of sports. So, I think it’s deserving of all of the pageantry that is involved with it. I’m happy to give it back, happy to be here. Ready to get going.’’

Harman said he actually practiced getting out of his car with the jug for the video cameras to capture the ceremonial annual moment.

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Asked if he was good at it, he quipped, “I don’t know. I’ll have to go back and watch the tape and see how I did.’’

Though he said his life hasn’t changed dramatically as an Open champion , perhaps the outside perception of him as a player has changed.

“Anytime that you become a major champion, it certainly elevates your status in the game, elevates the way that you’re perceived in the game,’’ Harman said. “I try to take all of that in stride, but at the same time understand that the golf is the most important thing, and I’ve tried to improve my golf game and get it in a place where I can maybe contend in some more majors down the road.’’

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The last player to win back-to-back Opens was Padraig Harrington in 2007-08.

“My stats this year have been really good and my ball-striking has been as good as it’s ever been,’’ Harman said. “The only thing I haven’t done well this year is I haven’t putted especially well. So, I’m just kind of waiting for it all to line up correctly. You just never know when that work is going to pay off. You never know when the peak is coming. You never know when you’re going to catch a little bit of momentum. So you just have to hope it’s a big week.

“You never really know when it’s coming.’’

Last year, Harman endured some toxic fan behavior, as the English fans rooted hard for countryman Tommy Fleetwood, with whom he was paired in the final round.

What kind of reception does Harman expect as the reigning champion?

“It doesn’t bother me,’’ he said. “I’m ready to take whatever in stride. I’m here to play the best golf that I possibly can. That’s my main focus. I’ve always loved the fans over here. I’ve spoken a bunch of times about how I find them the most knowledgeable fans of any that we play in front of.

“I kind of chalk last year up as more of an anomaly than anything else.’’

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