Fred Herd

Fred Herd (26 November 1873 – 14 March 1954) was a Scottish professional golfer from St Andrews. In 1898 he won the fourth U.S. Open at Myopia Hunt Club, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.[1] This was the first U.S. Open to be played over 72 holes, requiring the competitors to play eight rounds of Myopia's nine-hole course. Herd turned in a card totaling 328, 84-85-75-84, averaging 82 strokes per 18-hole round.[2]

Fred Herd
Herd in 1898
Personal information
Full nameFrederick Herd
Born(1873-11-26)26 November 1873
St Andrews, Scotland
Died14 March 1954(1954-03-14) (aged 80)
Nationality Scotland
 United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins1
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenWon: 1898
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Early life

Herd was born at St Andrews, Scotland on 26 November 1873.[3] He emigrated to the United States in 1897, became a naturalized citizen,[4] and that same year was posted as the professional at the Washington Park course in Chicago. He and his brother James were boarding at the Chicago home of Ellen McNulty and her family in 1900.[5][6]

Golf career

1898 U.S. Open

He won a $150 prize for winning the 1898 U.S. Open—a large sum of money at the time—but such was his reputation as a drinker that he was not allowed to take the U.S. Open trophy away until he had paid a deposit, as the USGA was worried that he might pawn it to buy alcohol.[7]

Herd played in the U.S. Open on three other occasions, but did not have any other top ten finishes. His brother, Sandy Herd, won The Open Championship in 1902.[1] Two of Herd's other brothers, Alex and Davy, also played in the 1898 U.S. Open but did not finish in the top 10.[6]

Death and legacy

Herd died on 14 March 1954. He is best remembered for winning the 1898 U.S. Open.

Major championships

Wins (1)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1898U.S. Open6 shot lead84-85-75-84=3287 strokes Alex Smith

Results timeline

Herd played only in the U.S. Open.

Tournament 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902
U.S. Open 1 T25 T16 DNP 24

DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

References
  1. 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. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
  2. "The Sportlight by Grantland Rice -- Winners Up to Date". New York Tribune. 10 June 1919. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. "Births in the United District of St Andrews and St Leonards in the City of Fife". Statutory Births 453/00 0209. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. File:Frederick Herd naturalization record, 18 Sept, 1897.jpg
  5. File:HerdBoarding.jpg
  6. "Golf Experts to Meet". The Sun. 17 June 1898. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  7. Peper, George; McMillan, Robin (1 September 1994). Golf in America. New York: H.N.Abrams/Abradale Press. p. 57. ISBN 9780810981232.


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