Claret Jug ‘needs a bit of a clean’, McIlroy jokes during Stormont visit

British Open champion Rory McIlroy was yesterday unable to show off his prized Claret Jug to the North’s political leaders, admitting it needed a clean after a night of celebrations.

The three-time Major winner apologised for turning up empty-handed to Stormont Castle in Belfast on the latest leg of his victory tour.

On Monday night, the jug took pride of place on the table of an upmarket Belfast nightclub as McIlroy, 25, partied with friends. However, it was nowhere to be seen yesterday as the newly crowned Open winner stopped by for an informal chat with the North’s First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.