Brian Harman comes out swinging over potential hecklers at The Open

Defending Open champion Brian Harman says he chalked up his hostile reception at last year's major at Royal Liverpool as an 'anomaly'. 

Harman claimed the claret jug 12 months ago but handed the silverware back on Monday. 

The American joked with reporters ahead of his title defence that copious amounts of 'unusually expensive' wine and whiskey were consumed from the trophy. 

Last July the 37-year-old cantered to a six-shot victory by plotting his way round the links in superb fashion. 

He only went in two bunkers that week - one came on the 72nd hole - and putted like a man possessed, holing 59 out of 60 putts from inside 10 feet. 

Harman also had no three-putts, further illustrating why he was a deserving winner. 

But it was clear that the crowd weren't pulling for the left-hander and some heckled the golfer. 

According to Harman, he had one spectator thrown out. 

A few weeks after winning The Open, Harman said in comments to Golf Digest that it felt like 'David versus Goliaths'. 

"Boy, did they not want me to win that tournament," he said. 

Harman said on Monday that he's ready for whatever comes his way this week. 

And he claimed that what happened last year was just an one-off. 

Asked if the heckling 'bothers' him, Harman said: "I'm ready to take whatever in stride. 

"I'm here to play the best golf that I possibly can. That's my main focus."

He added: I've always loved the fans over here. I've spoken a bunch of times about how I find them the most knowledgeable fans of any that we play in front of.

"I kind of chalk last year up as more of an anomaly than anything else."

"Some people care more about money than I do"

The R&A released the 2024 purse on Monday. 

And chief executive Martin Slumbers took aim at golf's money problem. 

Slumbers said it wasn't sustainable for the majors to keep increasing the prize money astronomically year-on-year. 

Harman was asked if he would play The Open if there was no prize money all. 

"I would personally," Harman said. "I'm not sure everyone would, but I would."

Why? 

"Because some people care more about money than I do," he said. 

"I play golf for me. Like I play golf to see how good I can get at golf. 

"I play golf because I enjoy torturing myself with things that are really hard to do. That's just me.

"Most times when I get done with a tournament, I couldn't tell you within commas of how much that I made that week."

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