1959 Open Championship


The 1959 Open Championship was the 88th Open Championship, held 1–3 July at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Gary Player, age 23, shot a final round of 68 to win the first of his nine major titles, two strokes ahead of runners-up Fred Bullock and Flory Van Donck. It was the first of Player's three Claret Jugs; he won again in 1968 and 1974.
Muirfield was originally scheduled to host in 1957, but it was transferred to St. Andrews because of petrol rationing following the "Suez Crisis" in late 1956. Muirfield was subsequently allocated the 1959 Championship.
Qualifying took place on 29–30 June, with 18 holes at Muirfield and 18 holes at the number 1 course Gullane. There were no exemptions and the number of qualifiers was limited to a maximum of 100, and ties did not qualify. The qualifying score was 147 and 90 players advanced to the first round the next day; defending champion Peter Thomson led with 137 and won the £50 qualifying prize. The maximum number of players making the cut after 36 holes was again set at 50, and ties did not make the cut.
The purse was increased to £5,000, up 150 from 4,850 in 1958; the winner's share remained unchanged at £1,000, but the prizes for second to fifth places were increased. Second place received £700, with 525 for third, 400 for fourth, and 325 for fifth.
Bullock and Arnold Stickley led after the first round on Wednesday with scores of 68. A number of amateurs made good starts, the best was Michael Bonallack at 70. Bullock retained the lead after a second round 70 and Bonallack was one of four amateurs to make the cut. The three 'giants' Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton, and Thomson all made the cut, but all were eight or more strokes behind
On Friday, Player teed off at 9:04 am, two hours before the leaders, who started at 11:04 am. Player was out in 37 in his morning round but came home in 33 and was only four strokes behind the leaders after 54 holes. The Scottish amateur Reid Jack had a third round 68 to be only two shots behind. In the afternoon's final round, Player reached the last needing 4 for a round of 66. However he drove into a bunker at the 18th and three-putted for a 6, a round of 68 and a total of 284. In the last group Bullock and Flory Van Donck both finished two shots behind Player. Jack won the silver medal for leading amateur by finishing tied for fifth place, two ahead
Only four Americans were in the field of 90 and none made the cut. Sweeny and Garrett were amateurs.

Course

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Missed the cut

Source:

Round summaries

First round

Wednesday, 1 July 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Fred Bullock68−4
T1Arnold Stickley68−4
3Antonio Cerdá69−3
T4Michael Bonallack 70−2
T4Sam King70−2
T4Flory Van Donck70−2
T7Jimmy Adams71−1
T7Harry Bradshaw71−1
T7Henry Cotton71−1
T7Norman Drew71−1
T7Reid Jack 71−1
T7Reg Knight71−1
T7Eddie Whitcombe71−1

Source:

Second round

Thursday, 2 July 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Fred Bullock68-70=138−6
2Flory Van Donck70-70=140−4
T3Michael Bonallack 70-72=142−2
T3Reg Knight71-71=142−2
T3Arnold Stickley68-74=142−2
T6Antonio Cerdá69-74=143−1
T6Tom Haliburton74-69=143−1
T6Jimmy Hitchcock75-68=143−1
T6Syd Scott73-70=143−1
T10Sam King70-74=144E
T10Eric Lester73-71=144E
T10John Panton72-72=144E

Source:
Amateurs: Bonallack, Carr, Jack, Wolstenholme ,
Sweeny Jr, Smith, Garrett, Dalziel, Ferguson, Stuart.

Third round

Friday, 3 July 1959 -
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Fred Bullock68-70-74=212−4
T1Sam King70-74-68=212−4
T3Jimmy Hitchcock75-68-70=213−3
T3Flory Van Donck70-70-73=213−3
T5Michael Bonallack 70-72-72=214−2
T5Reid Jack 71-75-68=214−2
T7John Panton72-72-71=215−1
T7Dai Rees73-73-69=215−1
T7Leopoldo Ruiz72-74-69=215−1
T10Antonio Cerdá69-74-73=216E
T10Reg Knight71-71-74=216E
T10Gary Player75-71-70=216E
T10Syd Scott73-70-73=216E

Source:

Final round

Friday, 3 July 1959 -
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
1Gary Player75-71-70-68=284−41,000
T2Fred Bullock68-70-74-74=286−2612
T2Flory Van Donck70-70-73-73=286−2612
4Syd Scott73-70-73-71=287−1400
T5Reid Jack 71-75-68-74=288E–
T5Sam King70-74-68-76=288E258
T5Christy O'Connor Snr73-74-72-69=288E258
T5John Panton72-72-71-73=288E258
T9Dai Rees73-73-69-74=289+1137
T9Leopoldo Ruiz72-74-69-74=289+1137

Source:
Amateurs: Jack, Bonallack, Wolstenholme, Carr.