1908 U.S. Open (golf)

1908 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesAugust 27–29, 1908
LocationSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
Course(s)Myopia Hunt Club
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Field84, 48 after cut
Cut183
Winner's share$300
Champion
Scotland Fred McLeod
322
← 1907
1909 →
Myopia   Hunt Club is located in the United States
Myopia   Hunt Club
Myopia  
Hunt Club
class=notpageimage|
Location in the United States
Myopia   Hunt Club is located in Massachusetts
Myopia   Hunt Club
Myopia  
Hunt Club
class=notpageimage|
Location in Massachusetts

The 1908 U.S. Open was the fourteenth U.S. Open, held August 27–29 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston. Fred McLeod defeated 1899 champion Willie Smith in an 18-hole playoff to win his only major title.[1][2]

High winds on Thursday caused scores in the first two rounds to soar, with only two players managing to break 80. Willie Smith carded rounds of 77-82 for a three-stroke lead over Myopia club pro John Jones, with brother Alec Smith four back and Fred McLeod five behind.[3]

On Friday, Smith struggled to an 85 in the third round in the morning but still held the lead by one over McLeod and two over Alex. In the final round that afternoon, McLeod tied for lowest score of the tournament by carding a 77, while Smith managed a 78 to force a playoff.[4]

In the playoff on Saturday, McLeod and Smith were even through 13 holes, but McLeod took the lead at the 14th after Smith missed a par putt. McLeod dominated the rest of the way, going 1-under on the last five holes to shoot a 77 to Smith's 83.[1] McLeod only broke 80 in one round of the tournament, while Smith and Gilbert Nicholls were the only players to shoot in the 70s twice. The winning score of 322 was the third-highest in U.S. Open history.

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, August 27, 1908 (morning)

Place Player Score
1 Scotland Willie Smith 77
2 Scotland Alex Smith 80
3 England John Jones 81
T4 Scotland Jock Hutchison 82
Scotland Fred McLeod
T6 England Herbert Barker 84
United States Richard Kimball
T8 Scotland Willie Anderson 85
Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie
United States Alex Campbell
United States Tom McNamara

Source:[2][3]

Second round

Thursday, August 27, 1908 (afternoon)

Place Player Score
1 Scotland Willie Smith 77-82=159
2 England John Jones 81-81=162
3 Scotland Alex Smith 80-83=163
4 Scotland Fred McLeod 82-82=164
T5 Scotland Jock Hutchison 82-84=166
England Gilbert Nicholls 89-77=166
T7 Scotland Jack Hobens 86-81=167
United States Tom McNamara 85-82=167
T9 Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie 85-83=168
Scotland Alex Campbell 85-83=168

Source:[2][3]

Third round

Friday, August 28, 1908 (morning)

Place Player Score
1 Scotland Willie Smith 77-82-85=244
2 Scotland Fred McLeod 82-82-81=245
3 Scotland Alex Smith 80-83-83=246
4 England John Jones 81-81-87=249
5 Scotland Peter Robertson 89-84-77=250
T6 Scotland Willie Anderson 85-86-80=251
Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie 85-83-83=251
8 Scotland Jack Hobens 86-81-85=252
T9 Scotland Jock Hutchison 82-84-87=253
United States Richard Kimball 84-86-83=253
United States Tom McNamara 85-82-86=253

Source:[2][4]

Final round

Gallery following McLeod, likely at 1908 U.S. Open

Friday, August 28, 1908 (afternoon)

Place Player Score Money ($)
T1 Scotland Fred McLeod 82-82-81-77=322 Playoff
Scotland Willie Smith 77-82-85-78=322
3 Scotland Alex Smith 80-83-83-81=327 100
4 Scotland Willie Anderson 85-86-80-79=330 80
5 England John Jones 81-81-87-82=331 70
T6 Scotland Jack Hobens 86-81-85-81=333 45
Scotland Peter Robertson 89-84-77-83=333
T8 England Percy Barrett 94-80-86-78=338 28
Scotland Jock Hutchison 82-84-87-85=338
T10 United States Richard Kimball 84-86-83-86=339 0
United States Tom McNamara 85-82-86-86=339

Source:[2][4]

Amateurs: Travis (347), Hylan (356), J. Anderson (357).

Playoff

Saturday, August 29, 1908

Place Player Score Money ($)
1 Scotland Fred McLeod 39-38=77 300
2 Scotland Willie Smith 38-45=83 150

Source:[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "M'Leod takes golf title". Chicago Sunday Tribune. August 30, 1908. p. 3, sec. 3.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. pp. 210–11. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Smith of Mexico leads golfers". Chicago Daily Tribune. August 28, 1908. p. 7.
  4. ^ a b c "Smith and M'Leod tied at Myopia". Chicago Daily Tribune. August 29, 1908. p. 7.

42°36′32″N 70°51′32″W / 42.609°N 70.859°W / 42.609; -70.859