Scottie Scheffler will officially hand back the Claret Jug in a new public ceremony at Royal Birkdale on Tuesday, before headlining the inaugural Heroes Classic to kick off Open Championship week.
According to a fresh announcement from The Open, the World No. 1 will return the trophy on the 1st tee in front of the gallery, turning a long-standing formality into a showcase moment as build-up to the 154th Open intensifies. Scheffler is bidding to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 — also at Birkdale — to successfully defend the Claret Jug. “I’m really looking forward to being part of the first Heroes Classic,” Scheffler said. “It’s a great concept and a fun way to kick off the week at Royal Birkdale. It’s also going to be fun for the fans to experience that relaxed environment right before the main Championship gets under way.”
Heroes Classic Line-Up: Jordan Spieth And Padraig Harrington Join Scheffler
Spieth and Harrington, the two most recent champions to lift the Claret Jug at Birkdale, headline a roster that also includes Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, AIG Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita, G4D Open champion Brendan Lawlor and rugby great Bryan Habana, Sky Sports reports.
The exhibition will be contested in teams of three across the 1st, 2nd and 9th holes in a Texas Scramble format, with every player guaranteed involvement in each shot. The R&A’s Chris Gabe said the event is designed to bring “spectators closer to the game and the players they love” in a more relaxed setting than the Championship itself.
With the full Open field already confirmed and Thursday’s tee times locked in, the Heroes Classic offers one last look at the leading contenders before the serious business begins on the Birkdale links.
