1901 U.S. Open (golf)


The 1901 U.S. Open was the seventh U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston. Willie Anderson won the first of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over Alex Smith.
Smith led after the first two rounds on Friday at 164, with Anderson three strokes back in third place. After the third round on Saturday morning, Stewart Gardner led at 249, with Anderson a stroke behind and Smith one back in third at 251. Garder had an 85 in the afternoon and fell to fourth. Both Anderson and Smith posted total scores of 331, the highest winning score in U.S. Open history, with Smith narrowly missing a putt at the 18th to win the championship in regulation.
The playoff, the first in U.S. Open history, was pushed back to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play. Smith jumped out to a three-stroke lead at the turn and led by five shots with fives holes to play. He went 5-7-5-4 over the next four holes, while Anderson recorded all fours to even up the match. At the 18th, Anderson found the green in two while Smith's approach landed in the rough. Anderson two-putted for his four, while Smith chipped to with a chance to tie, but his putt went astray and failed to find the cup. Anderson finished with an 85, a stroke better than Smith.
Smith's brother Willie, the 1899 champion, finished in third place, two shots out of the playoff. Myopia club pro John Jones was twelfth, then caddied for Anderson during the playoff. For the only time in U.S. Open history, no player managed to break 80 in any round.
Anderson would go on to win a record four U.S. Open titles in five years, including three consecutive, yet to be repeated. His four titles have been matched by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Past champions in the field

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Did not play: Harry Vardon, Fred Herd.

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 15, 1901
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Laurie Auchterlonie81
T2Arthur Lockwood 82
T2George Low82
T2Alex Smith82
T5Willie Anderson84
T5Alex Campbell84
T5Bernard Nicholls84
T8David Brown86
T8Val Fitzjohn86
T8Stewart Gardner86

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Second round

Friday, June 15, 1901
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Alex Smith82-82=164
2Laurie Auchterlonie81-85=166
3Willie Anderson84-83=167
4Stewart Gardner86-82=168
T5David Brown86-83=169
T5Bernard Nicholls84-85=169
7Willie Smith84-86=170
T8John Jones87-84=171
T8George Low82-89=171
T8Jack Park87-84=171

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Third round

Saturday, June 15, 1901
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Stewart Gardner86-82-81=249
2Willie Anderson84-83-83=250
3Alex Smith82-82-87=251
T4Laurie Auchterlonie81-85-86=252
T4David Brown86-83-83=252
T4Bernard Nicholls84-85-83=252
T4Willie Smith84-86-82=252
T8George Low82-89-85=256
T8Jack Park87-84-85=256
10Alex Campbell84-91-82=257

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Final round

Saturday, June 15, 1901
PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney
T1Willie Anderson84-83-83-81=331Playoff
T1Alex Smith82-82-87-80=331Playoff
3Willie Smith84-86-82-81=333125
4Stewart Gardner86-82-81-85=334100
T5Laurie Auchterlonie81-85-86-83=33575
T5Bernard Nicholls84-85-83-83=33575
7David Brown86-83-83-84=33650
8Alex Campbell84-91-82-82=33925
T9George Low82-89-85-85=3410
T9Jack Park87-84-85-85=3410

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Playoff

Monday, June 17, 1901
PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney
1Willie Anderson43-42=85200
2Alex Smith40-46=86150

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