1904 Open Championship

The 1904 Open Championship was the 44th Open Championship, held 8–10 June at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Jack White won his only major title, one stroke ahead of runners-up James Braid and J.H. Taylor, both former champions.[2]

1904 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates8–10 June 1904
LocationSandwich, England
Course(s)Royal St George's Golf Club
Statistics
Field144 players, 52 after cut[1]
Cut168
Prize fund£115
Winner's share£50
Champion
Scotland Jack White
296
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Sandwich  is located in England
Sandwich 
Sandwich 
Sandwich is located in Kent
Sandwich
Sandwich
Location in Kent. England

For the first time, the Open was scheduled for three days; the final day remained at 36 holes, but the first two rounds were now over two days.[3] Those within nineteen strokes of the leader made the 36-hole cut, with the additional provision that the final day's field had to contain at least 32 professionals.

The opening round on Wednesday was cold and windy, which led to some high scoring. Robert Thomson led with 75 after reaching the turn in 34. He was a shot ahead of amateur John Graham Jr. and Harry Vardon.[4] It was less windy on Thursday for the second round, and Vardon led on 149, followed by Thomson on 151 and Graham on 152. James Sherlock set a new record for the Open with 71, while Willie Park Jr. scored 72; 52 players were within nineteen strokes of Vardon and made the cut at 168 or better.[5]

Overnight rain and light winds made for some low scoring on Friday. Braid set a new Championship record with a 69 in the third round, reaching the turn in 31. White has the second best score with a 72. After the morning round, Braid led on 226 with White on 227; Vardon was at 228 after a disappointing 79.[2]

White, one of the early starters in the afternoon, scored 69 for 296.[2] Braid also played well but his 71 left him a shot behind. He holed a long putt at the 15th but a four at the short 16th left him too much to do. Taylor was the last player with a chance to catch White but needed a 67 to do so. Starting 3-3-2, he reached the turn in 32. However, like Braid, he took four at the 16th and also ended up a shot behind. His 68 was another new Open record. White's total of 296 was yet another, the first total under 300.

Round summaries

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First round

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Wednesday, 8 June 1904

Place Player Score
1   Robert Thomson 75
T2   John Graham Jr. (a) 76
  Harry Vardon
T4   James Braid 77
  J.H. Taylor
  Tom Vardon
7   Andrew Kirkaldy 78
T8   George Coburn 79
  Phil Gaudin
T10   Robert Maxwell 80
  Ben Sayers
  Jack White

Source:[1][4]

Second round

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Thursday, 9 June 1904

Place Player Score
1   Harry Vardon 76-73=149
2   Robert Thomson 75-76=151
3   John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76=152
T4   James Sherlock 83-71=154
  Tom Vardon 77-77=154
T6   J.H. Taylor 77-78=155
  Jack White 80-75=155
8   Willie Park Jr. 84-72=156
T9   James Braid 77-80=157
  Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79=157

Source:[1][5]

Third round

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Friday, 10 June 1904 (morning)

Place Player Score
1   James Braid 77-80-69=226
2   Jack White 80-75-72=227
3   Harry Vardon 76-73-79=228
T4   J.H. Taylor 77-78-74=229
  Tom Vardon 77-77-75=229
6   John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76-78=230
T7   Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79-74=231
  Robert Thomson 75-76-80=231
9   James Sherlock 83-71-78=232
10   Ernest Gray 84-77-74=235

Source:[1][2]

Final round

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Friday, 10 June 1904 (afternoon)

Place Player Score Money (£)
1   Jack White 80-75-72-69=296 50
T2   James Braid 77-80-69-71=297 20
  J.H. Taylor 77-78-74-68=297
4   Tom Vardon 77-77-75-72=301 10
5   Harry Vardon 76-73-79-74=302 7
10s
6   James Sherlock 83-71-78-77=309
T7   John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76-78-80=310 0
  Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79-74-79=310
9   Sandy Herd 84-76-76-75=311
T10   Robert Maxwell (a) 80-80-76-77=313
  Ben Sayers 80-80-76-77=313

Source:[1][2][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 133. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Open Championship - Victory of Jack White". Glasgow Herald. 11 June 1904. p. 10.
  3. ^ "The Open Championship - preliminary practice". Glasgow Herald. 8 June 1904. p. 11.
  4. ^ a b "Open Championship - first day's play at Sandwich". Glasgow Herald. 9 June 1904. p. 12.
  5. ^ a b "Open Championship - second day's play". Glasgow Herald. 10 June 1904. p. 13.
  6. ^ 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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