1903 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1903 U.S. Open was the ninth U.S. Open, held June 26–29 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, west of New York City. Willie Anderson won the second of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over David Brown.^[1][2] The championship was played on the original course at Baltusrol,^[3] now known as the Old Course, which no longer exists.

1903 U.S. Open

Tournament information
Dates	June 26–29, 1903
Location	Springfield, New Jersey
Course(s)	Baltusrol Golf Club Old Course (no longer exists)
Organized by	USGA
Format	Stroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Length	6,003 yards (5,489 m)
Field	85
Cut	none
Winner's share	$200
Champion
Willie Anderson
307, playoff
← 1902 1904 →

Baltusrol 

Location in the United States

Baltusrol 

Location in New Jersey

Anderson led after each of the first three rounds,^[4] with a six-shot lead after 54 holes, but carded 82 in the final round on Saturday afternoon. Brown's 76 equaled them at 307 total, eight strokes clear of the field.^[5] The playoff was moved to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play, and was played in a heavy rainstorm. Anderson took a two-stroke lead at the turn, but Brown managed to tie after 14. At the next hole, Brown made a seven after his tee shot went out of bounds, but Anderson only gained a single stroke after three-putting for a six. At 16, Brown made a six to Anderson's five, and both made fours on the last two holes; Anderson ended at 82, two shots ahead.^[1]

Anderson had won in 1901 and was the first to win the U.S. Open twice; it was the first of three consecutive titles, a feat yet to be repeated. His four U.S. Open wins set a record which has been equaled by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Donald Ross, who would become known as one of the greatest golf course architects, designing several courses that hosted future U.S. Opens, had his best U.S. Open finish with a 5th place showing. Baseball Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward played in his first of two U.S. Opens here, finishing in 56th place.

The Old Course at Baltusrol hosted the U.S. Open again a dozen years later in 1915, then was plowed under three years later in 1918 by course architect A. W. Tillinghast to create the Upper and Lower Courses.

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 26, 1903 (morning)

Place	Player	Score
1	Willie Anderson	73
2	Laurie Auchterlonie	75
T3	Jack Campbell	76
	Jack Hobens
T5	Findlay Douglas (a)	77
	Stewart Gardner
	Alex Smith
T8	George Tuttle Brokaw (a)	78
	William Norton
T10	David Brown	79
	Alex Campbell
	Donald Ross

Source:^[2][4]

Second round

Friday, June 26, 1903 (afternoon)

Place	Player	Score
1	Willie Anderson	73-76=149
T2	Laurie Auchterlonie	75-79=154
	Stewart Gardner	77-77=154
	Alex Smith	77-77=154
T5	David Brown	79-77=156
	Findlay Douglas (a)	77-79=156
7	Jack Hobens	76-81=157
8	Donald Ross	79-79=158
T9	Jack Campbell	76-83=159
	William Norton	78-81=159
	Horace Rawlins	82-77=159

Source:^[2][4]

Third round

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (morning)

Place	Player	Score
1	Willie Anderson	73-76-76=225
2	David Brown	79-77-75=231
3	Alex Smith	77-77-81=235
T4	Stewart Gardner	77-77-82=236
	Donald Ross	79-79-78=236
6	Horace Rawlins	82-77-78=237
T7	Laurie Auchterlonie	75-79-84=238
	Findlay Douglas (a)	77-79-82=238
9	Jack Hobens	76-81-82=239
10	Isaac Mackie	83-80-78=241

Source:^[2][5]

Final round

Saturday, June 27, 1903 (afternoon)

Place	Player	Score	Money ($)
T1	Willie Anderson	73-76-76-82=307	Playoff
	David Brown	79-77-75-76=307
3	Stewart Gardner	77-77-82-79=315	125
4	Alex Smith	77-77-81-81=316	100
5	Donald Ross	79-79-78-82=318	80
6	Jack Campbell	76-83-83-77=319	70
7	Laurie Auchterlonie	75-79-84-83=321	50
8	Findlay Douglas (a)	77-79-82-84=322	0
T9	Jack Hobens	76-81-82-84=323	33
	Alex Ross	83-82-78-80=323
	Willie Smith	80-81-83-79=323

Source:^[2][5]

Amateurs: Douglas (322), Reinhart (325), Travis (326), Brokaw (333),
                 Croker (348), Carnegie (353), Kellogg (356), Gillespie (357),
                 Tappin (359), Watson (360), Ward (363), McDonald (372).

Playoff

Monday, June 29, 1903

Place	Player	Score	Money ($)
1	Willie Anderson	42-40=82	200
2	David Brown	42-42=84	150

Source:^[1]

References

1. "Championship for Anderson". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 30, 1903. p. 8.
2. Brenner, Morgan G. (2009). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of The Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters, 1860-2008. pp. 205–6. ISBN 9780786453955. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
3. "Ready for the championship". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 26, 1903. p. 8.
4. "Play in golf tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 27, 1903. p. 6.
5. "Two champions are tied". Chicago Sunday Tribune. June 28, 1903. p. 12.

External links

• USGA Championship Database

40.705°N 74.328°W / 40.705; -74.328