By John Egnot
Manager of Media Relations

Harold Hilton, while not one of the biggest names in golf lore, certainly was an interesting character who made quite a splash on the American golf scene.

Harold Hilton

Born in 1869 in West Kirby, England, Hilton began to make a name for himself in his early 20s. At age 23, he won what would become the first of two British Open Championships. This win came in 1892, the first time the Open Championship was went to 72 holes.

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t until the week of the event that Hilton finally decided to compete. After traveling from his home in Hoylake to Murifield, Scotland, Hilton had just one practice round and was seven shots out of the lead after the first two days of play. However, rounds of 72-74 catapulted him to the top of the leader board, enough for a three-shot victory.

Hilton’s second British Open title came in his hometown of Hoylake in 1897. After posting a four-round total of 314, Hilton awaited his fate as a number of players were still left on the golf course. Instead of heading to the practice tee to stay loose like most players would, Hilton simply hung out in the clubhouse, shooting pool to pass the time. The tournament came down to the last hole, with Hilton coming back outside to watch James Braid finish. Braid would miss a last-ditch birdie putt, allowing Hilton to claim victory.

However, Harold Hilton is probably best known for one of the most famous shots in tournament golf. In 1911, Hilton came across the pond to compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship at Apawamis Country Club in Rye, N.Y. Thirty-six holes wasn’t enough to determine a champion, and on the 37th hole, Hilton had a 3-wood into No. 1 green. The shot was headed to the rock bed to the right of the green, making it appear that Fred Herreshoff, Hilton’s opponent, would cruise to victory.

Incredibly, the ball ricocheted off the rock wall onto the green, miraculously saving Hilton’s championship bid. In shock over what he just saw, Herreshoff topped his approach shot and ended up making bogey. Hilton two-putted for par to win the championship, and in doing so, became the first foreigner to win the U.S. Amateur. To this day, “Hilton’s Rock” still stands at Apawamis.

Hilton’s swing wasn’t the prettiest, but it was effective. He swung extremely hard, and oddly enough, regripped the club at the top of his backswing.

In his career, Hilton won four British Amateur Championships (1900, 1901, 1911, 1913) along with the two British Opens and lone U.S. Amateur victory already mentioned. Upon retirement, Hilton became a golf writer and foreshadowed the emergence of American golf, headed by greats such as Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. Hilton passed away in 1942 at age 73.