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This
week, the View from Chateau will be used to introduce you
to the new history section of The AJGA Link. It is the concensus
of The Link staff that the history of golf is as important
as its future, which we truly believe rests on the AJGA's
membership.
Welcome to the Back Nine.
Walking
the fairways of Muirfield, players at this year’s British
Open had the right to feel a few ghosts walking beside them
– Morris, Vardon, Hagan, Jones – all are names synonymous
with this event and part of its legend.
It is simply known as the Open. No other descriptors are needed.
As the oldest of the four majors and vastly steeped with history,
the British Open earned this title – a long time ago.
The
Open's first champion – Willie Park. |
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On October
17, 1860, still the embryonic stages of Abraham Lincoln’s
national political career, the first Open Championship took
place at Prestwick’s 12-hole course. Letters were sent
to neighboring clubs inviting the top “caddies,”
the professionals of the time, to compete for the Champion’s
Belt, the tournament’s first trophy. Only eight men accepted
the invitation to the inaugural event. Willie Park of Musselburgh
edged out Old Tom Morris by two shots with a 174 total.
"Young"
Tom Morris with his Champion's Belt. |
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In 1861,
the Championship was “open to the whole world.”
Twelve men participated. Old Tom Morris prevailed, establishing
his family line of Open champions. He and his son, “Young”
Tom Morris, won four times apiece, eight of the first twelve
tournaments, by 1872.
The Champions Belt found a permanent home in the Morris house
in 1870. The rules of the original competition stated the
red Moroccan leather belt “becomes the property of the
winner by being won three years in succession.” So when
Young Tom Morris defeated David Strath at Prestwick, the Open
had nothing to present its victor.
The
Claret Jug has been the trophy of the Open since
1873. |
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In 1871,
the desires for a new trophy and new venues were proposed
by Gilbert Mitchell Innes, mainly because other clubs besides
Prestwick, like the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, were being
asked for money to buy a new trophy. On September 11, 1872,
the three clubs agreed to pay the 10 pounds and jointly host
the Open.
Thus, in 1873, came the Claret Jug trophy. At first, the winner
retained the jug and it was not until Bobby Jones’ victory
in 1927 did an original stay with the R&A.
Thus came the rotation of various Open courses. Names like
St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Troon, Royal St. George’s, Royal
Lytham and Muirfield have become, over the years, as much
of the Open’s lore as the players who graced the fairways.
So as Ernie Els hoisted the Claret Jug, originally fashioned
by Mackay Cunningham & Company 119 years ago, and stood
on the 18th green at a course that first hosted an Open 105
years ago, more than just the people surrounding him on the
green and those watching on television were listening –
history was as well.
Interested in reading more about the British
Open? Check out these books:
The British Open: A Twentieth-Century History of Golf's
Greatest Championship
by Francis Murray, Gary Player
Royal and Ancient: Blood, Sweat and Fear at the British Open
by Curt Sampson
Fourteen Clubs and the Auld Claret Jug: The Caddies'
Inside Stories of Winning the British Open
by Norman Dabell
For more on the history of golf, visit the following links:
GolfEurope.com
CNNSI.com
Photos
and historical information provided by the R & A.
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