This Day in Golf History: July 10

Crowd control is a major part of a tour event's success. During U.S. Open week in 1922, which began on July 10, it was the first time an admission fee was charged. The venue was Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill., and the fee was 1 dollar for a single-day admission and $5 for an all-week pass. If spectators were unhappy having to pay a fee, they could go away feeling they got their money's worth, though. Gene Sarazen, a bright star at age 20, was four behind going into the final round, shot 68 and beat John Black and Bobby Jones, another 20-year-old phenom, by a stroke. Also, one of the Open Championships more memorable playings ended on this date in 1953 with Ben Hogan winning by four strokes over a quartet of players at Carnoustie. It culminated a year in which Hogan won the first three majors of the year but couldn’t play the PGA because it conflicted with The Open.