The 1901 U.S. Open was the seventh U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston.[1] Willie Anderson won the first of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over Alex Smith.[2][3]

1901 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 14–17, 1901
LocationSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
Course(s)Myopia Hunt Club
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Length6,130 yards (5,605 m)
Field54
Cutnone
Winner's share$200
Champion
Scotland Willie Anderson
331, playoff
← 1900
1902 →
Myopia   Hunt Club is located in the United States
Myopia   Hunt Club
Myopia  
Hunt Club
Myopia   Hunt Club is located in Massachusetts
Myopia   Hunt Club
Myopia  
Hunt Club

Smith led after the first two rounds on Friday at 164, with Anderson three strokes back in third place.[4] After the third round on Saturday morning, Stewart Gardner led at 249, with Anderson a stroke behind and Smith one back in third at 251. Garder had an 85 in the afternoon and fell to fourth. Both Anderson and Smith posted total scores of 331, the highest winning score in U.S. Open history, with Smith narrowly missing a putt at the 18th to win the championship in regulation.[5][6]

The playoff, the first in U.S. Open history, was pushed back to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play. Smith jumped out to a three-stroke lead at the turn and led by five shots with fives holes to play. He went 5-7-5-4 over the next four holes, while Anderson recorded all fours to even up the match.[2] At the 18th, Anderson found the green in two while Smith's approach landed in the rough. Anderson two-putted for his four, while Smith chipped to four feet (1.2 m) with a chance to tie, but his putt went astray and failed to find the cup. Anderson finished with an 85, a stroke better than Smith.[2][7]

Smith's brother Willie, the 1899 champion, finished in third place, two shots out of the playoff. Myopia club pro John Jones was twelfth, then caddied for Anderson during the playoff. For the only time in U.S. Open history, no player managed to break 80 in any round.[8]

Anderson would go on to win a record four U.S. Open titles in five years, including three consecutive (19031905), yet to be repeated. His four titles have been matched by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Round summaries

edit

First round

edit

Friday, June 14, 1901 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   Laurie Auchterlonie 81
T2   Arthur Lockwood (a) 82
  George Low
  Alex Smith
T5   Willie Anderson 84
  Alex Campbell
  Bernard Nicholls
T8   David Brown 86
  Val Fitzjohn
  Stewart Gardner

Source:[4][6]

Second round

edit

Friday, June 14, 1901 (afternoon)

Place Player Score
1   Alex Smith 82-82=164
2   Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85=166
3   Willie Anderson 84-83=167
4   Stewart Gardner 86-82=168
T5   David Brown 86-83=169
  Bernard Nicholls 84-85=169
7   Willie Smith 84-86=170
T8   John Jones 87-84=171
  George Low 82-89=171
  Jack Park 87-84=171

Source:[4][6]

Third round

edit

Saturday, June 15, 1901 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   Stewart Gardner 86-82-81=249
2   Willie Anderson 84-83-83=250
3   Alex Smith 82-82-87=251
T4   Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85-86=252
  David Brown 86-83-83=252
  Bernard Nicholls 84-85-83=252
  Willie Smith 84-86-82=252
T8   George Low 82-89-85=256
  Jack Park 87-84-85=256
10   Alex Campbell 84-91-82=257

Source:[5][6]

Final round

edit

Saturday, June 15, 1901 (afternoon)

Place Player Score Money ($)
T1   Willie Anderson 84-83-83-81=331 Playoff
  Alex Smith 82-82-87-80=331
3   Willie Smith 84-86-82-81=333 125
4   Stewart Gardner 86-82-81-85=334 100
T5   Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85-86-83=335 75
  Bernard Nicholls 84-85-83-83=335
7   David Brown 86-83-83-84=336 50
8   Alex Campbell 84-91-82-82=339 25
T9   George Low 82-89-85-85=341 0
  Jack Park 87-84-85-85=341

Source:[5][6]

Playoff

edit

Monday, June 17, 1901

Place Player Score Money ($)
1   Willie Anderson 43-42=85 200
2   Alex Smith 40-46=86 150

Source:[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Golfers gather at Myopia Club". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 14, 1901. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d "Willie Anderson golf champion". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 18, 1901. p. 7.
  3. ^ "Alec Smith Beaten in Open Championship Match". New York Daily Tribune. June 18, 1901. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Poor scores in golf tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 15, 1901. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b c "Tie in golf tournament". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 16, 1901. p. 19.
  6. ^ a b c d e 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. pp. 203–4. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Alexander Smith and Willie Anderson Tied for the Open Championship at 331". New York Tribune. June 16, 1901. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. ^ Labbance, Bob. "Myopia Hunt Club". Links. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
edit

42°36′32″N 70°51′32″W / 42.609°N 70.859°W / 42.609; -70.859