1903 U.S. Open (golf)

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1903 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 26–29, 1903
LocationSpringfield, New Jersey
Course(s)Baltusrol Golf Club
Old Course (no longer exists)
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Length6,003 yards (5,489 m)
Field85
Cutnone
Winner's share$200
Champion
Scotland Willie Anderson
307, playoff
← 1902
1904 →
Baltusrol  is located in the United States
Baltusrol 
Baltusrol 
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Location in the United States
Baltusrol  is located in New Jersey
Baltusrol 
Baltusrol 
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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[]

Player Country Year won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total Finish
Willie Anderson  Scotland 1901 73 76 76 82 307 1
Laurie Auchterlonie  Scotland 1902 75 79 84 83 321 7
Willie Smith  Scotland 1899 80 81 83 79 323 T9
Horace Rawlins  England 1895 82 77 78 87 324 12
Joe Lloyd  England 1897 84 85 80 83 332 T24

Source:[2][5]

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

Round summaries[]

First round[]

Friday, June 26, 1903 (morning)

Place Player Country Score
1 Willie Anderson  Scotland 73
2 Laurie Auchterlonie  Scotland 75
T3 Jack Campbell  Scotland 76
Jack Hobens  United States
T5 Findlay Douglas (a)  Scotland 77
Stewart Gardner  Scotland
Alex Smith  Scotland
T8 George Tuttle Brokaw (a)  United States 78
William Norton
T10 David Brown  Scotland 79
Alex Campbell  Scotland
Donald Ross  Scotland

Source:[2][4]

Second round[]

Friday, June 26, 1903 (afternoon)

Place Player Country Score
1 Willie Anderson  Scotland 73-76=149
T2 Laurie Auchterlonie  Scotland 75-79=154
Stewart Gardner  Scotland 77-77=154
Alex Smith  Scotland 77-77=154
T5 David Brown  Scotland 79-77=156
Findlay Douglas (a)  Scotland 77-79=156
7 Jack Hobens  United States 76-81=157
8 Donald Ross  Scotland 79-79=158
T9 Jack Campbell  Scotland 76-83=159
William Norton 78-81=159
Horace Rawlins  England 82-77=159

Source:[2][4]

Third round[]

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (morning)

Place Player Country Score
1 Willie Anderson  Scotland 73-76-76=225
2 David Brown  Scotland 79-77-75=231
3 Alex Smith  Scotland 77-77-81=235
T4 Stewart Gardner  Scotland 77-77-82=236
Donald Ross  Scotland 79-79-78=236
6 Horace Rawlins  England 82-77-78=237
T7 Laurie Auchterlonie  Scotland 75-79-84=238
Findlay Douglas (a)  Scotland 77-79-82=238
9 Jack Hobens  United States 76-81-82=239
10 Isaac Mackie  United States 83-80-78=241

Source:[2][5]

Final round[]

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (afternoon)

Place Player Country Score Money ($)
T1 Willie Anderson  Scotland 73-76-76-82=307 Playoff
David Brown  Scotland 79-77-75-76=307
3 Stewart Gardner  Scotland 77-77-82-79=315 125
4 Alex Smith  Scotland 77-77-81-81=316 100
5 Donald Ross  Scotland 79-79-78-82=318 80
6 Jack Campbell  Scotland 76-83-83-77=319 70
7 Laurie Auchterlonie  Scotland 75-79-84-83=321 50
8 Findlay Douglas (a)  Scotland 77-79-82-84=322 0
T9 Jack Hobens  United States 76-81-82-84=323 33
Alex Ross  Scotland 83-82-78-80=323
Willie Smith  Scotland 80-81-83-79=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

Place Player Country Score Money ($)
1 Willie Anderson  Scotland 42-40=82 200
2 David Brown  Scotland 42-42=84 150

Source:[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Championship for Anderson". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 30, 1903. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ready for the championship". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 26, 1903. p. 8.
  4. ^ a b c "Play in golf tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 27, 1903. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b c d "Two champions are tied". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 28, 1903. p. 12.

External links[]

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

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