1901 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1901 U.S. Open was the seventh U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston.[1] Willie Anderson won the first of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over Alex Smith.[2][3]

1901 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 14–17, 1901
LocationSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
Course(s)Myopia Hunt Club
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Length6,130 yards (5,605 m)
Field54
Cutnone
Winner's share$200
Champion
Willie Anderson
331, playoff
Myopia  
Hunt Club
Location in the United States
Myopia  
Hunt Club
Location in Massachusetts

Smith led after the first two rounds on Friday at 164, with Anderson three strokes back in third place.[4] After the third round on Saturday morning, Stewart Gardner led at 249, with Anderson a stroke behind and Smith one back in third at 251. Garder had an 85 in the afternoon and fell to fourth. Both Anderson and Smith posted total scores of 331, the highest winning score in U.S. Open history, with Smith narrowly missing a putt at the 18th to win the championship in regulation.[5][6]

The playoff, the first in U.S. Open history, was pushed back to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play. Smith jumped out to a three-stroke lead at the turn and led by five shots with fives holes to play. He went 5-7-5-4 over the next four holes, while Anderson recorded all fours to even up the match.[2] At the 18th, Anderson found the green in two while Smith's approach landed in the rough. Anderson two-putted for his four, while Smith chipped to four feet (1.2 m) with a chance to tie, but his putt went astray and failed to find the cup. Anderson finished with an 85, a stroke better than Smith.[2][7]

Smith's brother Willie, the 1899 champion, finished in third place, two shots out of the playoff. Myopia club pro John Jones was twelfth, then caddied for Anderson during the playoff. For the only time in U.S. Open history, no player managed to break 80 in any round.[8]

Anderson would go on to win a record four U.S. Open titles in five years, including three consecutive (1903–1905), yet to be repeated. His four titles have been matched by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Past champions in the field
PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2R3R4TotalFinish
Willie Smith Scotland1899848682813333
James Foulis Scotland18968885858934711
Horace Rawlins England189590848889351T17
Joe Lloyd England18978287868935220

Source:[5][6]

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

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 15, 1901 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland81
T2Arthur Lockwood (a) Scotland82
George Low Scotland
Alex Smith Scotland
T5Willie Anderson Scotland84
Alex Campbell Scotland
Bernard Nicholls England
T8David Brown Scotland86
Val Fitzjohn Scotland
Stewart Gardner Scotland

Source:[4][6]

Second round

Friday, June 15, 1901 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Alex Smith Scotland82-82=164
2Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland81-85=166
3Willie Anderson Scotland84-83=167
4Stewart Gardner Scotland86-82=168
T5David Brown Scotland86-83=169
Bernard Nicholls England84-85=169
7Willie Smith Scotland84-86=170
T8John Jones England87-84=171
George Low Scotland82-89=171
Jack Park Scotland87-84=171

Source:[4][6]

Third round

Saturday, June 15, 1901 (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Stewart Gardner Scotland86-82-81=249
2Willie Anderson Scotland84-83-83=250
3Alex Smith Scotland82-82-87=251
T4Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland81-85-86=252
David Brown Scotland86-83-83=252
Bernard Nicholls England84-85-83=252
Willie Smith Scotland84-86-82=252
T8George Low Scotland82-89-85=256
Jack Park Scotland87-84-85=256
10Alex Campbell Scotland84-91-82=257

Source:[5][6]

Final round

Saturday, June 15, 1901 (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney ($)
T1Willie Anderson Scotland84-83-83-81=331Playoff
Alex Smith Scotland82-82-87-80=331
3Willie Smith Scotland84-86-82-81=333125
4Stewart Gardner Scotland86-82-81-85=334100
T5Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland81-85-86-83=33575
Bernard Nicholls England84-85-83-83=335
7David Brown Scotland86-83-83-84=33650
8Alex Campbell Scotland84-91-82-82=33925
T9George Low Scotland82-89-85-85=3410
Jack Park Scotland87-84-85-85=341

Source:[5][6]

Playoff

Monday, June 17, 1901

PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney ($)
1Willie Anderson Scotland43-42=85200
2Alex Smith Scotland40-46=86150

Source:[2]

References
  1. "Golfers gather at Myopia Club". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 14, 1901. p. 6.
  2. "Willie Anderson golf champion". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 18, 1901. p. 7.
  3. "Alec Smith Beaten in Open Championship Match". New York Daily Tribune. June 18, 1901. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. "Poor scores in golf tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 15, 1901. p. 6.
  5. "Tie in golf tournament". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 16, 1901. p. 19.
  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. pp. 203–4. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. "Alexander Smith and Willie Anderson Tied for the Open Championship at 331". New York Tribune. June 16, 1901. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. Labbance, Bob. "Myopia Hunt Club". Links. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.

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