ZACH JOHNSON was so desperate to hold onto the Claret Jug he had to ask his shrink for help handing it over.
The American prevailed in a three-way play-off at St Andrews last year and gave back golfs oldest trophy to R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers today.
But two-time Major winner Johnson joked he had actually been practising letting go of the Jug before at home.
He was pictured cradling it as he slept on his way back to America after last years win and, though the attachment wasnt quite so strong on his way back to these shores, Johnson needed advice from his mind guru on how to return it - after drinking some more wine from it.
Asked about his work with sports psychologist Dr Mo, Johnson said: Well start hashing out a game plan and mental strategies.
But if anything, what weve discussed is actually parting ways with the Claret Jug and controlling my emotions in that way.
As Dr Mo and I have been talking about, its not like Ive got a one or two-shot lead when I tee it up on Thursday. Ive got to get the Claret Jug back, which I did. It was not pleasant.
But Im staying in a house with some buddies and we had wine out of it. Its a Claret decanter, so it serves its purpose in that regard too.
I parted ways emotionally with it at home. I practised!
Im kidding, but it was bittersweet - more sweet - but the fact you know youve got to give it back, you know its coming.
I guess a portion of that sweetness is you still have an opportunity to get it back yourself.
Its just so much fun having the ability to have that Claret Jug for a portion of your life.