GOLF WRITER // GENERAL EDITORIAL SPECIALIST
Cherry+Hills+1960+U.S.+Open.jpg

This Day in Golf History

A page that will list golf history, and the people and events that comprise it in the form of This Day in Golf or This Week in Golf.

This Day in Golf History--October 4

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History--October 3

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.



Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History--October 2

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History--October 1

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 30

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.


Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 29

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 28

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.


Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 27

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 26

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup Golf History--September 25

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Ryder Cup History--September 24

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History--September 23

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History--September 21

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.


Cliff Schrock
This Day in U.S. Open Golf History--September 20

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in U.S. Open Golf History--September 19

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.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in U.S. Open Golf History--September 18

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.

Cliff Schrock