1910 U.S. Open (golf)

1910 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 17–20, 1910
LocationChestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Course(s)Philadelphia Cricket Club
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Par73
Field73, 52 after cut
Cut167 (+21)
Winner's share$300
Champion
Alex Smith
298 (+6)
Philadelphia 
Location in the United States
Philadelphia 
Location in Pennsylvania

The 1910 U.S. Open was the sixteenth U.S. Open, held June 17–20 at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, a neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia. Alex Smith, the champion four years earlier, prevailed in an 18-hole playoff over his younger brother Macdonald Smith and 18-year-old John McDermott to win his second U.S. Open.[1][2]

On Friday, Alex Smith opened with a pair of 73's to take the 36-hole lead by two shots ahead of McDermott, Gilbert Nicholls, Fred McLeod, and Tom Anderson.[3]

Smith carded a 79 in the third round on Saturday morning that left him two behind McDermott, who shot a 75 for 223. In the final round that afternoon, McDermott was the first to finish and posted another 75 and a 298 total. Macdonald Smith shot 71 that also placed him at 298. McLeod had a chance to also post 298 after driving the final hole, but his putt for a two stayed out and he finished a shot back. Alex Smith also drove the green at the last needing only a two-putt to win, but he missed from 18 inches (45 cm) and tied with McDermott and his brother.[4] Alex was not fazed by the near-miss; in the Monday playoff, his 71 beat McDermott by four and Macdonald by six.

McDermott won the next two U.S. Opens; he was the first American-born winner and remains the youngest champion (19) through 2016. Four-time champion Willie Anderson played in his final U.S. Open and finished eleventh; he died four months later of epilepsy at age 31.

The course also hosted in 1907 and is the present-day St. Martin's course, now nine holes.[5]

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 17, 1910 (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1 Tom Anderson 72 −1
T2 Tom McNamara 73 E
Gilbert Nicholls
Alex Smith
T5 Willie Anderson 74 +1
John McDermott
Macdonald Smith
James R. Thomson
T9 Herbert Barker 75 +2
George Low

Source:[3]

Second round

Friday, June 17, 1910 (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par
1 Alex Smith 73-73=146 E
T2 Tom Anderson 72-76=148 +2
John McDermott 74-74=148
Fred McLeod 78-70=148
Gilbert Nicholls 73-75=148
T6 Jack Hobens 74-77=151 +5
Tom McNamara 73-78=151
T8 Willie Anderson 74-78=152 +9
George Low 75-77=152
Macdonald Smith 74-78=152
Chay Thom 80-72=152

Source:[3]

Third round

Saturday, June 18, 1910 (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1 John McDermott 74-74-75=223 +4
2 Tom McNamara 73-78-73=224 +5
T3 Jack Hobens 74-77-74=225 +6
Gilbert Nicholls 73-75-77=225
Alex Smith 73-73-79=225
6 Fred McLeod 78-70-78=226 +7
T7 Tom Bonnar 74-78-75=227 +8
Macdonald Smith 74-78-75=227
T9 Willie Anderson 74-78-76=228 +9
Jock Hutchison 77-76-75=228

Source:[4][6]

Final round

Saturday, June 18, 1910 (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
T1 Alex Smith 73-73-79-73=298 +6 Playoff
John McDermott 74-74-75-75=298
Macdonald Smith 74-78-75-71=298
4 Fred McLeod 78-70-78-73=299 +7 80
T5 Tom McNamara 73-78-73-76=300 +8 65
Gilbert Nicholls 73-75-77-75=300
7 Jack Hobens 74-77-74-76=301 +9 50
T8 Tom Anderson 72-76-81-73=302 +10 30
Herbert Barker 75-78-77-72=302
Jock Hutchison 77-76-75-74=302

Source:[4][6]

Playoff

Monday, June 20, 1910

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1 Alex Smith 71 −2 300
2 John McDermott 75 +2 150
3 Macdonald Smith 77 +4 100

Source:[2]

References

  1. ^ "Alex Smith Champion: Wykagyl Professional Wins Triple Tie Play-Off in Open Golf Tournament". The New York Times. June 21, 1910.
  2. ^ a b "Alec Smith wins Open golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 21, 1910. p. 10.
  3. ^ a b c "Alec Smith leads golfers". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 18, 1910. p. 13.
  4. ^ a b c "Triple tie in golf tourney". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 19, 1910. p. 3, sec. 3.
  5. ^ "Golf". Philadelphia Cricket Club. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  6. ^ a b 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. p. 213. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 14, 2017.

40°03′54″N 75°12′32″W / 40.065°N 75.209°W / 40.065; -75.209