1903 U.S. Open (golf)

1903 U.S. Open
Tournament information
Dates June 26–29, 1903
Location Springfield, New Jersey
Course(s) Baltusrol Golf Club
Old Course (no longer exists)
Organized by USGA
Format Stroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Length 6,003 yards (5,489 m)
Field 85
Cut none
Winner's share $200
Champion
Scotland Willie Anderson
307, playoff
Baltusrol 
Location in the United States
Baltusrol 
Location in New Jersey

The 1903 U.S. Open was the ninth U.S. Open, held June 26–29 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, west of New York City. Willie Anderson won the second of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over David Brown.[1][2] The championship was played on the original course at Baltusrol,[3] now known as the Old Course, which no longer exists.

Anderson led after each of the first three rounds,[4] with a six-shot lead after 54 holes, but carded 82 in the final round on Saturday afternoon. Brown's 76 equaled them at 307 total, eight strokes clear of the field.[5] The playoff was moved to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play, and was played in a heavy rainstorm. Anderson took a two-stroke lead at the turn, but Brown managed to tie after 14. At the next hole, Brown made a seven after his tee shot went out of bounds, but Anderson only gained a single stroke after three-putting for a six. At 16, Brown made a six to Anderson's five, and both made fours on the last two holes; Anderson ended at 82, two shots ahead.[1]

Anderson had won in 1901 and was the first to win the U.S. Open twice; it was the first of three consecutive titles, a feat yet to be repeated. His four U.S. Open wins set a record which has been equaled by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Donald Ross, who would become known as one of the greatest golf course architects, designing several courses that hosted future U.S. Opens, had his best U.S. Open finish with a 5th place showing. Baseball Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward played in his first of two U.S. Opens here, finishing in 56th place.

The Old Course at Baltusrol hosted the U.S. Open again a dozen years later in 1915, then was plowed under three years later in 1918 by course architect A. W. Tillinghast to create the Upper and Lower Courses.

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2R3R4TotalFinish
Willie Anderson Scotland1901737676823071
Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland1902757984833217
Willie Smith Scotland189980818379323T9
Horace Rawlins England18958277788732412
Joe Lloyd England189784858083332T24

Source:[2][5]

Did not play: Harry Vardon (1900), Fred Herd (1898), James Foulis (1896).

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 26, 1903 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson Scotland73
2Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland75
T3Jack Campbell Scotland76
Jack Hobens United States
T5Findlay Douglas (a) Scotland77
Stewart Gardner Scotland
Alex Smith Scotland
T8George Tuttle Brokaw (a) United States78
William Norton
T10David Brown Scotland79
Alex Campbell Scotland
Donald Ross Scotland

Source:[2][4]

Second round

Friday, June 26, 1903 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson Scotland73-76=149
T2Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland75-79=154
Stewart Gardner Scotland77-77=154
Alex Smith Scotland77-77=154
T5David Brown Scotland79-77=156
Findlay Douglas (a) Scotland77-79=156
7Jack Hobens United States76-81=157
8Donald Ross Scotland79-79=158
T9Jack Campbell Scotland76-83=159
William Norton78-81=159
Horace Rawlins England82-77=159

Source:[2][4]

Third round

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Willie Anderson Scotland73-76-76=225
2David Brown Scotland79-77-75=231
3Alex Smith Scotland77-77-81=235
T4Stewart Gardner Scotland77-77-82=236
Donald Ross Scotland79-79-78=236
6Horace Rawlins England82-77-78=237
T7Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland75-79-84=238
Findlay Douglas (a) Scotland77-79-82=238
9Jack Hobens United States76-81-82=239
10Isaac Mackie United States83-80-78=241

Source:[2][5]

Final round

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney ($)
T1Willie Anderson Scotland73-76-76-82=307Playoff
David Brown Scotland79-77-75-76=307
3Stewart Gardner Scotland77-77-82-79=315125
4Alex Smith Scotland77-77-81-81=316100
5Donald Ross Scotland79-79-78-82=31880
6Jack Campbell Scotland76-83-83-77=31970
7Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland75-79-84-83=32150
8Findlay Douglas (a) Scotland77-79-82-84=3220
T9Jack Hobens United States76-81-82-84=32333
Alex Ross Scotland83-82-78-80=323
Willie Smith Scotland80-81-83-79=323

Source:[2][5]

Amateurs: Douglas (322), Reinhart (325), Travis (326), Brokaw (333),
                 Croker (348), Carnegie (353), Kellogg (356), Gillespie (357),
                 Tappin (359), Watson (360), Ward (363), McDonald (372).

Playoff

Monday, June 29, 1903

PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney ($)
1Willie Anderson Scotland42-40=82200
2David Brown Scotland42-42=84150

Source:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Championship for Anderson". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 30, 1903. p. 8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). "The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of The Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008". p. 205-6. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Ready for the championship". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 26, 1903. p. 8.
  4. 1 2 3 "Play in golf tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 27, 1903. p. 6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Two champions are tied". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 28, 1903. p. 12.

Coordinates: 40°42′18″N 74°19′41″W / 40.705°N 74.328°W / 40.705; -74.328

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.