In the first British Open, which occurred on October 17, 1860, Scotsman Willie Park defeated his compatriot, Old Tom Morris, by two strokes with a 174 total over 36 holes. From a group of eight players competing for a red leather belt with a silver buckle, the tournament became one of the most important in the sport.
Prizes
In the beginning, the winner received the belt as a prize while the men that finished second through fourth split about $50. In 1872, an ornate trophy called the Claret Jug replaced the belt that went to the winner.
Park and Morris
Willie Park Sr., Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris dominated the early Opens, winning the tile a dozen times between them from 1860 through 1875. Willie Park Jr. added two titles of his own to this group--in 1887 and 1889.
Vardon and Hagen
Players such as Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor scored multiple wins during the latter part of the 19th century and through the beginning of the 20th century. Walter Hagen in 1922 was the first American-born player to win the British Open, carding a score of 300.
Effects
World Wars I and II caused the cancellation of the British Open. After World War I, Americans such as Hagen and Bobby Jones began to go overseas to vie for the title.
American Winners
Greats such as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods are some of the Americans that have won this tournament.
About The Author
John has written thousands of articles for Demand Studios, Associated Content and The Greyhound Review. A Connecticut native, John has written extensively about sports, fishing, and nature.
