This Day in Golf--July 8

It's July! Let's talk the Open Championship, and its notorious weather. On this day in 1938, at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England, Reg Whitcombe survived in rough weather to win by two strokes over Jimmy Adams and three over defender Henry Cotton. The weather was even more diabolical than normal in 1938. The championship was supposed to be played in Deal at Royal Cinque Ports, but unusual high tides in February had damaged the course with flooding, forcing a switch to St. George's. Rough weather in the championship caused a high 36-hole cut at 8 over par. The 36-hole final day was played in gale-force winds, which tore apart the exhibition tent. Whitcombe managed the mayhem the best, shooting 75-78. His 78 was only 1 of seven scores below 80 in the final round. Classic Open Championship stuff!