He flew into Belfast City Airport at lunchtime accompanied by the Claret Jug - the most famous trophy in golf.

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So with the influence of the phone continuing to grow, how long before spectators are so busy tweeting about the British Open they miss the champion lifting the Claret Jug?

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He acknowledged this as he collected the Claret Jug.

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Annes in 2012 was the closest he had got to winning one of the sport's four blue riband events, letting the Claret Jug slip from his grasp and into Ernie Els' hands.

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Mickelson finished joint runner-up to Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland at Sandwich last year and is still looking to lift the Claret Jug for the first time, having played the British Open every year since 1991.

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He joins Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els as South African winners of the Claret Jug, particularly fitting on the day Nelson Mandela celebrated his 92nd birthday, with Oosthuizen sending his own public greetings in his acceptance speech.

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