Hoylake Champions

1897 Championship Harold Hilton

At the end of the first day Hilton, with a 36 hole total of 155, a stroke behind Braid and 3 ahead of Tait, but an 84 in the third round sent him into lunch “a very sick & peevish man” as Braid now had a 3 stroke lead. Tait, Pulford and Herd were also one shot ahead of him.

Hilton, however, prevailed with scores of 80, 75, 84 and 75 to win, by one shot from James Braid, on 314.

1902 Championship Sandy Herd

“The first drive I made with the Haskell ball was longer than any drive I had made with the gutta. I therefore made straight for Jack Morris’s shop and like his uncle, old Tom Morris, he was a very reverend looking gentleman and said that he could only give me four

Haskells, but my joy was unbounded.” Sandy and his new found friend won by one shot from Harry Vardon with rounds of 77, 76, 73 and 81 for 307.

1907 Championship Arnaud Massy

His rounds were calmness personified, especially the last one. He played from an open stance with a two handed grip and was a long hitter and fine cleek player. Massy’s win was a shock to British golf and no longer could the Championship be seen as the prerogative of the British.

His winning score of 312 was made up of 76, 81, 78 and 77, just two strokes clear of J H Taylor. Following his victory he named his new born daughter Hoylake – another Open record which may stand forever.

1913 Championship J H Taylor

“The wind died down a little and the rain stopped. I got the Briars in three, carrying the corner of the garden and ripping home a driving mashie shot which nearly knocked out the pin and I left the ball a foot or so beyond the hole”. It was observed and reported that

“the ball seemed to make a hole in the wind as it bored its way along”. Taylor continued his steady progress in this, his third round, to finish with a fine 77. His final round of 79 gave him a total of 312 which was eight strokes clear of his nearest rival Ted Ray.

1924 Championship Walter Hagen

“While ten thousand people held their breath, I stroked the ball …. gently but firmly, it righted the last turn, straightened out and headed for home! I threw my putter into the air and never saw the ball or the putter again. But I sure saw that British Open Trophy!”

Hagen was the winner with a 77 for 301, one shot ahead of E R Whitcombe.

1930 Championship Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones was already winner of the Amateur Championship at St Andrews when he came to Hoylake. His play in the two qualifying rounds at Wallasey and Hoylake prompted one writer to say that he took a turn among the ordinary mortals by compiling a score of 77.

His play during the Championship was somewhat better; however, his seven at the eighth hole could well be said to be that of an ordinary mortal! His winning score of 291, with no round over 75, left his pursuers, Leo Diegel and MacDonald Smith, two shots behind.

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