1911 U.S. Open (golf)


The 1911 U.S. Open was the 17th U.S. Open, held June 23–26 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. Nineteen-year-old John McDermott became the first American-born champion by defeating Mike Brady and George Simpson in an 18-hole playoff.
Two past champions, Alec Ross and Fred McLeod, shared the 36-hole lead on Friday evening at 149, with McDermott, Brady, and Simpson four shots back at 153, in a five-way tie for fourth.
Ross struggled on a rainy Saturday with 81-82 for 312 and fell into a tie for ninth. McLeod had a three-stroke lead after 54 holes, but finished with 83 for 308. Simpson posted 79-75 for 307, while Brady tied Simpson with a final round 75. McDermott made a birdie on the final hole for 79 to join Simpson and Brady, forcing a three-way playoff. Sunday was an idle day.
In the playoff on Monday afternoon, McDermott led Brady by four after the turn, with Simpson one more back. Brady then played the next four holes in one-under par while McDermott made three consecutive bogeys, evening up the contest with four holes remaining. McDermott took the lead at the 15th after Brady missed a four-footer for par, then sealed the championship with an approach to the par-5 18th that settled from the hole. He two-putted for birdie and 80, two strokes ahead of Brady and five clear of Simpson at 85.
At 19, McDermott became the youngest U.S. Open champion, a mark that still stands, and was also its first American-born champion. He successfully defended his title the following year, but by 1914 he began suffering from mental illness and his career was essentially over at age 23.
The Open Championship in England was held June 26−30 at Sandwich.
This was the first U.S. Open since the death of four-time champion Willie Anderson ; he had played in the previous fourteen editions and died the previous October at age 31.

Course

Past champions in the field

Source:
Did not play: Laurie Auchterlonie, Harry Vardon, Willie Smith.

Round summaries

First round

Friday, June 23, 1911
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Herbert Barker75−1
T1Alec Ross75−1
T3Mike Brady76E
T3George Sargent76E
T3George Simpson76E
T6Fred McLeod77+1
T6Tom McNamara77+1
T6Harry Turple77+1
T9James Donaldson78+2
T9Otto Hackbarth78+2
T9Albert Seckel 78+2
T9Alex Smith78+2

Source:

Second round

Friday, June 23, 1911
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Fred McLeod77-72=149−3
T1Alec Ross74-75=149−3
3Otto Hackbarth78-74=152E
T4Mike Brady76-77=153+1
T4John McDermott81-72=153+1
T4George Sargent76-77=153+1
T4George Simpson76-77=153+1
T4Harry Turpie77-76=153+1
T9Gilbert Nicholls76-78=154+2
T9Alex Smith78-76=154+2

Source:

Third round

Saturday, June 24, 1911
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Fred McLeod77-72-76=225−3
T2John McDermott81-72-75=228E
T2Gilbert Nicholls76-78-74=228E
T4Alex Campbell81-77-72=230+2
T4Jock Hutchison80-77-73=230+2
T4Alec Ross74-75-81=230+2
T7Mike Brady76-77-79=232+4
T7George Simpson76-77-79=232+4
T9Herbert Barker75-81-77=233+5
T9Peter Robertson79-76-78=233+5

Source:

Final round

Saturday, June 24, 1911
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
T1John McDermott81-72-75-79=307+3Playoff
T1Mike Brady76-77-79-75=307+3Playoff
T1George Simpson76-77-79-75=307+3Playoff
4Fred McLeod77-72-76-83=308+480
T5Jock Hutchison80-77-73-79=309+565
T5Gilbert Nicholls76-78-74-81=309+565
T7Herbert Barker75-81-77-78=311+745
T7George Sargent76-77-84-74=311+745
T9Peter Robertson79-76-78-79=312+825
T9Alec Ross74-75-81-82=312+825

Source:
Amateurs: Seckel, Sawyer, Phelps, Gardner, Egan, Watson,
Ames, Sellers, Devol.

Playoff

Monday, June 26, 1911
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
1John McDermott39-41=80+4300
2Mike Brady43-39=82+6150
3George Simpson44-41=85+9100

Source:

Scorecard

Source:
BirdieBogeyDouble bogey