1934 U.S. Open (golf)

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1934 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 7–9, 1934
LocationArdmore, Pennsylvania
Course(s)Merion Golf Club
East Course
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Par70[1]
Length6,694 yards (6,121 m)[2]
Field146 players, 65 after cut
Cut155 (+15)
Prize fund$5,000
Winner's share$1,000
Champion
United States Olin Dutra
293 (+13)
← 1933
1935 →
Merion GC  is located in the United States
Merion GC 
Merion GC 
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Location in the United States
Merion GC  is located in Pennsylvania
Merion GC 
Merion GC 
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Location in Pennsylvania

The 1934 U.S. Open was the 38th U.S. Open, held June 7–9 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia. Olin Dutra won his only U.S. Open, a stroke ahead of runner-up Gene Sarazen on the East Course. Dutra overcame an eight-stroke deficit after 36 holes to win his second major title; he won the PGA Championship in 1932.[3]

Bobby Cruickshank opened the tournament with a pair of 71s, and had a three-stroke lead over Sarazen at the midway point.[4] Sarazen carded a 73 in the third round to take a one-shot lead over Cruickshank. In the final round on Saturday afternoon, both Cruickshank and Sarazen were overcome by Dutra, who took the lead after birdies at 10 and 15. Sarazen took a triple bogey on the 11th while Cruickshank bogeyed 5 of the final 7 holes. Despite a pair of bogeys to finish the round, Dutra's 72 (+2) and total of 293 (+13) was enough to secure the victory.[1]

Dutra's win was all the more impressive after he fell ill before the tournament and was laid up for three days in his hotel room. He lost fifteen pounds (7 kg)[5] and could not practice for ten days. He was about to withdraw until his brother Mortie, who finished in 28th place, convinced him to play on. His 36-hole comeback from eight shots down was the largest in U.S. Open history until Arnold Palmer equaled it in 1960. From California, Dutra was the first U.S. Open champion born in the western United States.

Former caddies in Texas at the same course in Fort Worth, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson played in their first major championship, and both missed the cut, shooting 158 and 162, respectively.[6] Lawson Little finished as low amateur in 25th place; he won the title six years later in 1940 as a professional.

Merion Golf Club was affiliated with the Merion Cricket Club until 1941. This was the first U.S. Open at Merion, which hosted its fifth in 2013, all on the East Course.

Course[]

Main article: Merion Golf Club

East Course

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 360 555 195 595 425 435 360 367 185 3,477 335 378 400 133 443 395 445 230 458 3,217 6,694
Par 4 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 3 36 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 34 70

Source:[2][7]

Past champions in the field[]

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Gene Sarazen  United States 1922, 1932 73 72 73 76 294 +14 2
Billy Burke  United States 1931 76 71 77 72 296 +16 T6
Johnny Goodman (a)  United States 1933 76 77 83 75 311 +31 T43
Tommy Armour  Scotland
 United States		 1927 82 72 79 81 314 +34 T50
Johnny Farrell  United States 1928 75 79 83 81 318 +38 T58
Walter Hagen  United States 1914, 1919 82 72 79 81 318 +38 T58

Source:[6][8]

  • All former champions in the field made the cut

Round summaries[]

First round[]

Thursday, June 7, 1934

Place Player Country Score To par
T1 Wiffy Cox  United States 71 +1
Bobby Cruickshank  Scotland
Charles Lacey  England
4 Gene Sarazen  United States 73 +3
T5 Rodney Bliss  United States 74 +4
Henry Ciuci  United States
Mortie Dutra  United States
Willie Goggin  United States
Paul Runyan  United States
Jimmy Thomson  Scotland
 United States
Horton Smith  United States
George Von Elm  United States

Source:[9]

Second round[]

Friday, June 8, 1934

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Bobby Cruickshank  Scotland 71-71=142 +2
2 Gene Sarazen  United States 73-72=145 +5
3 Wiffy Cox  United States 71-75=146 +6
T4 Leo Diegel  United States 76-71=147 +7
Rodney Bliss  United States 74-73=147
Billy Burke  United States 76-71=147
Horton Smith  United States 74-73=147
T8 Henry Ciuci  United States 74-74=148 +8
Joe Kirkwood  Australia 75-73=148
Macdonald Smith  Scotland
 United States		 75-73=148

Source:[6]

Third round[]

Saturday, June 9, 1934 (morning)

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Gene Sarazen  United States 73-72-73=218 +8
2 Bobby Cruickshank  Scotland 71-71-77=219 +9
3 Wiffy Cox  United States 71-75-74=220 +10
T4 Olin Dutra  United States 76-74-71=221 +11
Ralph Guldahl  United States 78-73-70=221
T6 Harry Cooper  England
 United States		 76-74-74=224 +14
Billy Burke  United States 76-71-77=224
T8 Leo Diegel  United States 76-71-78=225 +15
Johnny Golden  United States 75-76-74=225
T10 Al Espinosa  United States 76-74-76=226 +16
Joe Kirkwood  Australia 75-73-78=226
Butch Krueger  United States 76-75-75=226
Johnny Revolta  United States 76-73-77=226
Macdonald Smith  Scotland
 United States		 75-73-78=226

Source:[8]

Final round[]

Saturday, June 9, 1934 (afternoon)

Place Player Country Score To par Money ($)
1 Olin Dutra  United States 76-74-71-72=293 +13 1,000
2 Gene Sarazen  United States 73-72-73-76=294 +14 750
T3 Harry Cooper  England
 United States		 76-74-74-71=295 +15 400
Wiffy Cox  United States 71-75-74-75=295
Bobby Cruickshank  Scotland 71-71-77-76=295
T6 Billy Burke  United States 76-71-77-72=296 +16 300
Macdonald Smith  Scotland
 United States		 75-73-78-70=296
T8 Tom Creavy  United States 79-76-78-66=299 +19 116
Ralph Guldahl  United States 78-73-70-78=299
Jimmy Hines  United States 80-70-77-72=299
Johnny Revolta  United States 76-73-77-73=299

Source:[8][10]

Scorecard[]

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4
United States Dutra +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +12 +12 +12 +13 +12 +12 +12 +12 +12 +11 +11 +12 +13
United States Sarazen +8 +8 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +10 +10 +10 +13 +13 +12 +13 +13 +13 +13 +14
Scotland Cruickshank +9 +9 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +11 +11 +12 +13 +14 +14 +15
United States Cox +10 +10 +9 +10 +10 +11 +12 +12 +12 +12 +12 +14 +14 +14 +14 +14 +14 +15

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Birdie Bogey Double bogey Triple bogey+

Source:[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Gould, Alan (June 10, 1934). "Olin Dutra's 293 wins National Open in sensational finish". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. D1. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Thirty-eighth National Open Golf Championship" (PDF). Trenham Golf History. Official Program. 1934. p. 35. Retrieved May 8, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 10, 1934). "Olin Dutra's 293 takes U.S. Open golf title". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 21.
  4. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 9, 1934). "Cruickshank leads National Open golf with 142". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 17.
  5. ^ Cavagnaro, Bob (June 10, 1934). "Dutra wanted to stay home". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. D4.
  6. ^ a b c "National Open scores". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 9, 1934. p. 18.
  7. ^ "154 start play in U.S. Open golf tourney today". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 7, 1934.
  8. ^ a b c "National Open scores". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 10, 1934. p. 6, part 2.
  9. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 8, 1934). "Three tie at 71 for National Open golf lead". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 27.
  10. ^ "National Open results". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. June 10, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved May 8, 2013.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°00′04″N 75°18′43″W / 40.001°N 75.312°W / 40.001; -75.312

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