Fifty Years of The Open
Ian Brown tells the story of the world’s greatest golf tournament.
Tom Morris Jnr
Hoylake’s last winner, Tiger Woods
Hilton, playing as an Amateur, was the winner. Hoylake first appeared on the rota in 1897 when Hilton was again the winner, and with John Ball winning in 1890 they remain the only Royal Liverpool members to have achieved such a feat. Could it happen again? We will have to wait and see! In recent times the Championship is now held, for various
reasons, at nine courses: St Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Turnberry, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal Birkdale, Royal St Georges and Royal Liverpool. Here at Hoylake we have hosted eleven Open Championships between 1897 and 2006. There are many facts and records relating to The Open
The Open Championship began in 1860 when the Prestwick
Club presented, as a challenge trophy, the Champion Belt, which although played for annually would become the absolute property of the winner if he should succeed in three successive years. This feat was accomplished in 1870 by Tom Morris Jnr. There was no Championship in 1871 and thereafter from 1872 a new trophy, the present cup, was subscribed for by Prestwick, the Royal and Ancient and the Honourable Company. The first twelve years of the Championship was dominated
by the Morris family, Tom Snr and Tom Jnr each winning on four occasions and all being staged at Prestwick. Between 1860 and 1891 the Championship was decided over 36 holes and from 1872 to 1891 in addition to Prestwick, Musselburgh and St Andrews were used in rotation. In 1892 Muirfield was the venue for the first time over 72 holes when Harold
which are of interest and include the following – Winners from Scotland 32, England 37, Ireland 3, USA 42, France 1, South Africa 8, Spain 3, Zimbabwe 1, Australia 9, New Zealand 1, Argentina 1. Most venues – St Andrews 27, least venues – Princes, Sandwich and Royal Portrush – 1. Lowest score over 36 holes – 149 at Prestwick in 1870 by Tom Morris Jnr. Lowest score over 72 holes – 267 at Royal St Georges in 1993 by Greg Norman. Highest score over 36 holes – 179 at St Andrews in 1873 by T Kidd. Highest score over 72 holes – 326 at Royal St Georges in 1894 by J Taylor. Lowest number of entries – 6 at Prestwick in 1862 and 1864. Most prolific winners – H Vardon 6, James Braid, J H Taylor, P Thomson and T Watson all 5 time winners. Amateur winners – J Ball, H Hilton, R T Jones (all with a Hoylake connection!). The following anecdotes are, in the main, taken
from writings and reports at the time on the Hoylake Open Championships.
One Hundred and
Some facts specifically relating to Hoylake and its Open Championships WINNER WITH THE BIGGEST MARGIN
FEWEST ROUNDS UNDER 70 SINCE 1946 LOWEST FRONT 9 IN THE THIRD ROUND LOWEST AGGREGATE AGAINST PAR OLDEST WINNER – Roberto de Vicenzo HIGHEST ROUND BY A WINNER SINCE 1939
8 strokes – J H Taylor in 1913 2 in 1947 and 1956
Sergio Garcia in 2006 with 29 Tiger Woods in 2006 18 under 44 years 93 days in 1967 F Daly in 1947 with 78
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