1908 Open Championship

The 1908 Open Championship was the 48th Open Championship, held 18–19 June at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. James Braid won the Championship for the fourth time, eight strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Ball.[2]

1908 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates18–19 June 1908
LocationPrestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Course(s)Prestwick Golf Club
Statistics
Field65 players[1]
Cutnone
Prize fund£115
Winner's share£50
Champion
Scotland James Braid
291
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Prestwick is located in Scotland
Prestwick
Prestwick

Qualifying took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 16–17 June, and the players were divided into two "sections."[3][4] Those in the first section played on the first morning and second afternoon while those in the second section played on the first afternoon and second morning.[3] After the 36 holes the leading thirty players and ties qualified from each section. The qualifying score of 163 was the same in both sections, and 65 players qualified. J.H. Taylor led the first section with a score of 150 while the Scottish amateur Robert Andrew led the second section with the same score.[5]

The first round on Thursday morning was noted for its low scoring, especially on the first nine holes. Ernest Gray, from Littlehampton, went out in 31 and equalled J.H. Taylor's record score of 68 set at Royal St George's in 1904. Braid finished with a 70 after going out in 33, with Fred Robson in third place after a 72. Ben Sayers was amongst those in fourth place on 74 after he too went out in 33. In the afternoon, Gray was eleven shots worse with a round in 79, while Braid added a 72 to lead by five strokes from Gray, with Sandy Herd and David Kinnell a further stroke behind. Braid again played the front nine in 33, and although he took six at the 13th, he had a comfortable lead at the end of the day.[6]

On Friday morning, Braid began the third round badly. After taking five at the first hole, he followed with an eight at the third. Despite slicing his tee shot into the rough he tried to carry the Cardinal Bunker but failed. His bunker shot hit the sleepers and went out of bounds. After dropping in the bunker, he hit the sleepers again, this time landing further back in the bunker. He finally escaped the bunker, played a further shot to the green and two-putted for an eight. Under modern rules, he would have scored nine, but at the time there was no penalty stroke for "out of bounds." After this, he recovered well and finished with a 77, only three strokes worse than the best rounds of the morning. With Gray taking 83 and Herd coming back in 45, Braid, on 219, had extended his lead to six strokes over Ball and Ted Ray.[2]

Braid had a final round of 72, the best of the afternoon to win by eight shots. His total of 291 was an Open Championship record, beating Jack White's 296 in 1904. After poor scores on the first day, Harry Vardon and Taylor were amongst the best scorers on the second day and finished in ties for fifth and seventh places.

Round summaries

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First round

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Thursday, 18 June 1908 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   Ernest Gray 68
2   James Braid 70
3   Fred Robson 72
T4   John Ball (a) 74
  Sandy Herd
  Ben Sayers
T6   Rowland Jones 75
  David Kinnell
  Tom Simpson
T9   Tom Ball 76
  John Graham Jr.
  Arnaud Massy
  Willie McEwan
  Albert Tingey Sr.

Source:[1][6]

Second round

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Thursday, 18 June 1908 (afternoon)

Place Player Score
1   James Braid 70-72=142
2   Ernest Gray 68-79=147
T3   Sandy Herd 74-74=148
  David Kinnell 75-73=148
5   Tom Ball 76-73=149
T6   Rowland Jones 75-75=150
  Ted Ray 79-71=150
  Ben Sayers 74-76=150
T9   Arnaud Massy 76-75=151
  Fred Robson 72-79=151

Source:[1][6]

Third round

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Friday, 19 June 1908 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   James Braid 70-72-77=219
T2   Tom Ball 76-73-76=225
  Ted Ray 79-71-75=225
T4   Sandy Herd 74-74-79=227
  Arnaud Massy 76-75-76=227
T6   James Edmundson 80-72-76=228
  Phil Gaudin 77-76-75=228
  David Kinnell 75-73-80=228
  Tom Simpson 75-77-76=228
10   John Ball (a) 74-78-78=230

Source:[1][2]

Final round

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Friday, 19 June 1908

Place Player Score Money (£)
1   James Braid 70-72-77-72=291 50
2   Tom Ball 76-73-76-74=299 25
3   Ted Ray 79-71-75-76=301 15
4   Sandy Herd 74-74-79-75=302 10
T5   David Kinnell 75-73-80-78=306 7
10s
  Harry Vardon 79-78-74-75=306
T7   Tom Simpson 75-77-76-79=307 0
  J.H. Taylor 79-77-76-75=307
T9   Phil Gaudin 77-76-75-80=308
  Arnaud Massy 76-75-76-81=308

Source:[1][2][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 128. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Golf championship - Brilliant victory of James Braid - Record score". Glasgow Herald. 20 June 1908. p. 14.
  3. ^ a b "The Open Championship". Glasgow Herald. 16 June 1908. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Golf championship - First qualifying rounds at Prestwick". Glasgow Herald. 17 June 1908. p. 14.
  5. ^ "Golf championship - Qualifying rounds completed". Glasgow Herald. 18 June 1908. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b c "Golf championship - Sensational play". Glasgow Herald. 19 June 1908. p. 14.
  7. ^ 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. Vol. 1. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3360-5.
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55°30′07″N 4°37′08″W / 55.502°N 4.619°W / 55.502; -4.619