A pair of Ryder Cups concluded on this date. In 1995 at Oak Hill in New York, Europe won a thriller 14½-13½ with Irishman Philip Walton beating Jay Haas for the clinching point. And in 2006, at the K Club, Ireland, Europe won a third straight time, this one in a breeze, 18½-9½.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date in the 1800s. In 1868, at Prestwick, Young Tom Morris won by three shots over his father at just age 17. And in 1892, at Muirfield, Harold Hilton also won by three over John Ball, Hugh Kirkaldy and Sandy Herd.
On this date in 1905, the U.S. Open concluded at the Myopia Hunt Club, with Willie Anderson winning for the third straight year, two shots in front of runner-up Alex Smith.
On this date in 2008, the Ryder Cup ended at Valhalla Golf Club with the American team, utilizing captain Paul Azinger’s “pod” coaching method, winning over the European team, 16½-11½.
One of the milestone moments in golf history took place on today’s date in 1913. After tying at 12 over par for four rounds, American Francis Ouimet and England’s Harry Vardon and Ted Ray played a playoff on this date at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The outcome remained in doubt after nine holes when all three shot an even-par 38. From there, the hometown Ouimet shot a bogeyless 34 coming in for a 72, one under par. Vardon faltered with 77 and Ray had 78. The result was viewed as a major upset to have an American defeat the normally more talented players from England and Scotland.
On this date in 1913, American Francis Ouimet and Englishmen Harry Vardon and Ted Ray tied at 304 after four rounds of the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The three were tied after 54 holes and each shot 79 in the final round. They were set to play an 18-hole playoff on September 20.
On this date in 1892, the winner of the 1924 U.S. Open, Cyril Walker, was born in Manchester, England. He came to the U.S. in 1914 and was working out of Englewood Country Club when he won the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills. But he died destitute in 1948 in New Jersey at age 55.
On this date in 1897, the third U.S. Open was held at Chicago Golf Club in one day of 36 holes. Joe Lloyd of England won by one shot over Willie Anderson and won $150.
On this date in 1953, 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. His victory came as a 22-year-old rookie with great promise for many more majors that never came, partly due to a shoulder injury.
On this date in 1899, the 5th U.S. Open concluded at Baltimore Country Club with Willie Smith of Scotland winning by a landslide, 11 shots over George Low, Val Fitzjohn and Bert Way.
On this date in 1865, the Open Championship was won by Andrew Strath of Scotland, who won over two-time champion Willie Park Sr. by two shots. And in 1868, Tom Morris Jr. is credited with the first recorded hole-in-one when he aced the eighth hole at Prestwick, Scotland.
A pair of Open Championships from the 1800s ended on this date. In 1866, at Prestwick, Willie Park Sr. won for the third time, beating brother Davie Park by two shots. In 1872, also at Prestwick, Tom Morris Jr. won for the fourth straight time, winning by three strokes over David Strath.
Angel Cabrera was born on this date in 1969. The winner of the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, the Argentinian golfer has been off his game of late and has been playing a mix of senior and regular tour golf.
A pair of Open Championships from the 1800s ended on this date, playing the entire event in one day each time. In 1862, the third championship was won by Tom Morris Sr. in defense of his title, at Prestwick by 13 shots over Willie Park Sr. And in 1890, also at Prestwick, amateur John Ball won by three shots over Willie Fernie and Archie Simpson.
At least three famous people were born on this date. Arnold Palmer in 1929 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; Larry Nelson in 1947 in Fort Payne, Alabama, and William Dale Hynd of Moline, Illinois. Golfers will know who the first two are, but Mr. Hynd? That would be my father-in-law, who was born on this day in 1933. Happy Birthday Rodeo Bill!
One year ago on this date, one of the greatest characters in golf history, Englishman Brian Barnes, died of cancer. Barnes won nine times on the European Tour, and never won a major, but his greatest claim to fame was beating Jack Nicklaus twice on the same day in singles at the 1975 Ryder Cup.
On this date in 1963, Jack Nicklaus shot a second-straight 70 to win the World Series of Golf, an unoffical 36-hole event involving the winners of the year’s major championships, held at Firestone Country Club, par-70, 7,165-yard South Course, Akron, Ohio. The final standings: September 7-8, 1963—Jack Nicklaus 70-70—140, $50,000; Julius Boros 72-69—141, $15,000; Arnold Palmer 71-72—143, $5,000; Bob Charles 70-77—147, $5,000.
Louise Suggs, an LPGA Tour cofounder and ultra-tough competitor, was born on this date in 1923 in Lithia Springs, Georgia. Winner of 11 majors, Suggs is in the World Golf Hall of Fame and won the 2007 Bob Jones Award, named in honor of a fellow Georgian.
On this date in 1929, Dow Finsterwald was born in Athens, Ohio. He won the 1958 PGA Championship, the first year it was held at stroke play after conducted at match play since 1916.
On this date in 1925, the great amateur Bobby Jones, President in Perpetuity of Augusta National Golf Club, won the 29th playing of the U.S. Amateur., beating Watts Gun, 8 and 7, at Oakmont for his second title.