On this date in 1895, the inaugural U.S. Open was held at Newport Country Club, in Rhode Island, with Englishman Horace Rawlins winning by two shots over Scot Willie Dunn. There were just 36 holes played by the small field of 11 players.
The 1884 and 1885 Open Championships ended on this date. At Prestwick, Jack Simpson won by four shots in 1884, and in 1885, Bob Martin won for the second time, by one shot at St. Andrews.
On this date in 1876, Scotsman Bob Martin won The Open Championship at The Old Course at St. Andrews when David Strath, who tied Martin with 176 strokes, decided against playing the playoff because of a dispute with the Royal & Ancient.
On this date in 1921, The Haig—Walter Hagen—won the 4th PGA Championship at Inwood Country Club on Long Island, New York. Hagen defeated two-time champion Jim Barnes of England, 3 & 2, to capture his third major championship.
The European team won two of three Ryder Cup matches that ended on this date. The American team won in 1937 in an away match at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, 8-4, the first time the home team had lost in the Ryder Cup. In 2012, Europe beat an uninspired American team, 14½-13½, at Medinah to retain the cup by overcoming a 10-6 Day 2 lead. And in 2018, at Le Golf National, Europe crushed the Americans, 17½–10½, as Spain’s Sergio Garcia became the highest point scorer in RC history with 25½.
One of the most contentious Ryder Cups concluded on this date in 1991 when the “War by the Shore” at Kiawah Island ended in a 14½-13½ U.S. victory. Bernhard Langer missed a 6-foot par putt on the final hole in a Singles match with Hale Irwin that would have ended the team match in a 14-14 tie. The American team celebration caused an uproar.
A pair of Ryder Cup matches ended on this date. In 1997 at Valderrama Golf Club in Spain, Europe won 14½-13½ for the first of six straight victories at home by the Europeans. And in 2014, at Gleneagles in Scotland, Europe won 16½-11½.
On this date in 1987, one of the most pivotal Ryder Cups concluded at Muirfield Village in Ohio, Jack Nicklaus’ course. The European team, captained by Tony Jacklin, beat the Nicklaus-led Americans, 15-13, for the first loss by the U.S. on home soil in 60 years of competition. The U.S. had been 13-0 at home.
A pair of close U.S. victories in the Ryder Cup on this date in the 1990s are a couple of the latest grand moments the Americans have had to celebrate as Europe is now the dominating team in the biennial series. In 1993 at The Belfry, the U.S. won 15-13, for captain Tom Watson, with Davis Love III clinching the Cup with a 1-up victory over Italy’s Costantino Rocca. And in 1999, the Americans won the fabled match at The Country Club, 14½-13½, after trailing 10-6 going into the singles and making a monumental comeback. The victory didn’t come without a price, though. The U.S. players were chastised for poor team sportsmanship.
On this week of observing what would have been Ryder Cup week, special note is made of today’s date being the day in 2016 Arnold Palmer died at age 87. In addition to his seven majors, Palmer is one of the most memorable figures in Ryder Cup history in numerous statistical categories and a two-time winning captain.
A pair of Ryder Cups concluded on this date. In 1995 at Oak Hill in New York, Europe won a thriller 14½-13½ with Irishman Philip Walton beating Jay Haas for the clinching point. And in 2006, at the K Club, Ireland, Europe won a third straight time, this one in a breeze, 18½-9½.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date in the 1800s. In 1868, at Prestwick, Young Tom Morris won by three shots over his father at just age 17. And in 1892, at Muirfield, Harold Hilton also won by three over John Ball, Hugh Kirkaldy and Sandy Herd.
On this date in 1905, the U.S. Open concluded at the Myopia Hunt Club, with Willie Anderson winning for the third straight year, two shots in front of runner-up Alex Smith.
On this date in 2008, the Ryder Cup ended at Valhalla Golf Club with the American team, utilizing captain Paul Azinger’s “pod” coaching method, winning over the European team, 16½-11½.
One of the milestone moments in golf history took place on today’s date in 1913. After tying at 12 over par for four rounds, American Francis Ouimet and England’s Harry Vardon and Ted Ray played a playoff on this date at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The outcome remained in doubt after nine holes when all three shot an even-par 38. From there, the hometown Ouimet shot a bogeyless 34 coming in for a 72, one under par. Vardon faltered with 77 and Ray had 78. The result was viewed as a major upset to have an American defeat the normally more talented players from England and Scotland.
On this date in 1913, American Francis Ouimet and Englishmen Harry Vardon and Ted Ray tied at 304 after four rounds of the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The three were tied after 54 holes and each shot 79 in the final round. They were set to play an 18-hole playoff on September 20.
On this date in 1892, the winner of the 1924 U.S. Open, Cyril Walker, was born in Manchester, England. He came to the U.S. in 1914 and was working out of Englewood Country Club when he won the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills. But he died destitute in 1948 in New Jersey at age 55.
On this date in 1897, the third U.S. Open was held at Chicago Golf Club in one day of 36 holes. Joe Lloyd of England won by one shot over Willie Anderson and won $150.
On this date in 1953, 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. His victory came as a 22-year-old rookie with great promise for many more majors that never came, partly due to a shoulder injury.
On this date in 1899, the 5th U.S. Open concluded at Baltimore Country Club with Willie Smith of Scotland winning by a landslide, 11 shots over George Low, Val Fitzjohn and Bert Way.