Ryan Fox’s Hectic Journey with the Claret Jug

Traveling with a prestigious trophy like the Claret Jug presents its own challenges, as Ryan Fox, the Champion Golfer of the Year, discovered. After his triumphant win at The Open held at Royal Birkdale, Fox faced unexpected hurdles while flying commercially with the trophy.

The day following a major victory is always packed with activity. For Fox, dealing with the complications of airport protocols only added to the chaos. On the Monday following his win, the New Zealander embarked on a flight from Manchester to London, with plans to return home from Heathrow Airport.

Ryan Fox of New Zealand celebrated his victory, pictured in a moment of triumph as he kissed the Claret Jug after winning the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport on July 19, 2026. (Courtesy of David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

After passing through security with the Claret Jug safely encased, Fox encountered another obstacle. He had to negotiate taking the trophy on as a carry-on, rather than stowing it with cargo, at the gate. During a press conference after the championship, Fox shared his experience dealing with the situation. He explained how he had to convince the check-in agent to let him take this ‘special cargo’ on board. “I meekly got up to the check-in agent with these two boxes and go, ‘So, yeah, I’ve got some special cargo here, is there any chance I can just take these on the plane?'” said Fox. Upon learning that the boxes contained the Claret Jug, and that Fox had indeed won it, the agent allowed him to carry it on with no further issues.

During his appearance on ‘The Smylie Show,’ Fox mentioned that fellow travelers recognizing him as the recent championship winner helped his situation at security. Adding to the peculiarity of the day, Fox found himself seated right behind Cameron Young, who secured a runner-up position at Birkdale after Fox clinched the victory with a birdie on the final hole.

Mark Harris contributes as a writer for OutKick, offering detailed accounts of remarkable moments such as Ryan Fox’s post-victory journey.