1936 Open Championship


The 1936 Open Championship was the 71st Open Championship, held 25–27 June at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. Alf Padgham won his only major title, one stroke ahead of runner-up Jimmy Adams.
Qualifying was scheduled for 22–23 June, Monday and Tuesday, with 18 holes at Royal Liverpool and 18 holes at Wallasey, and the top 100 and ties qualified. Heavy rain caused the first day's play to be abandoned; a lightning bolt stunned three spectators and a caddy, and the greens were under water, some up to. All the scores were voided; Henry Cotton had completed his round of 67 at Wallasey before play was abandoned. Tuesday proceeded as scheduled and the Monday round was played on Wednesday. Cotton led the qualifiers on 139, having scored 68 at Wallasey on the rearranged day, with Wally Smithers two shots behind on 141; the qualifying score was 155 and 107 players advanced. With the weather delay, the championship began on Thursday and concluded with two rounds on Saturday.
After the second round on Friday, Bill Cox and Adams were tied for the lead, with five players a shot back, including Padgham and Henry Cotton. The 36-hole cut was the top sixty and ties; it was at 156 and 62 advanced.
After the third round on Saturday morning, Adams and Cotton shared the lead, with Padgham and Tom Green a stroke behind. In the final round that afternoon, Padgham tied Adams for the lead at the turn. He made a four on the 17th, then made a 15-footer for a three at the 18th to post a 287 total. Adams stood on the 17th knowing that he needed to play the last two holes in eight strokes to tie Padgham. His approach shot found a greenside bunker, and after he failed to get up-and-down he now needed a three on the 18th. He found the green in two, but his putt lipped out and he finished a stroke behind Padgham. Cotton and Green were still on the course, but neither could mount a charge, giving Padgham the championship.
Future four-time Open champion Bobby Locke tied for eighth in his major championship debut. Jim Ferrier, the winner of the PGA Championship in 1947, also played in his first major and finished 44th. Both were among the eleven amateurs to make the cut, with Locke as low amateur.

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Henry Cotton193473727074289−7T3
Gene Sarazen193273757073291−5T5
Alf Perry193576768079311+15T50
Arthur Havers192378788079315+1960

Source:
All past champions in the field made the cut.
Did not advance past qualifying rounds :
James Braid 163, Sandy Herd 164.
Did not enter:
Walter Hagen, Jim Barnes.

Course

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, 25 June 1936
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Bill Cox70−4
2Jimmy Adams71−3
T3Bill Davies72−2
T3Jack McLean 72−2
T3Reg Whitcombe72−2
T6Henry Cotton73−1
T6Marcel Dallemagne73−1
T6Francis Francis 73−1
T6Alf Padgham73−1
T6Gene Sarazen73−1
T6Charles Whitcombe73−1

Source:

Second round

Friday, 26 June 1936
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Jimmy Adams71-73=144−4
T1Bill Cox70-74=144−4
T3Dick Burton74-71=145−3
T3Henry Cotton73-72=145−3
T3Marcel Dallemagne73-72=145−3
T3Francis Francis 73-72=145−3
T3Alf Padgham73-72=145−3
T8Percy Alliss74-72=146−2
T8Dick Burton74-71=146−2
T8Tom Green74-72=146−2

Source:

Third round

Saturday, 27 June 1936
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Jimmy Adams71-73-71=215−7
T1Henry Cotton73-72-70=215−7
T3Tom Green74-72-70=216−6
T3Alf Padgham73-72-71=216−6
5Gene Sarazen73-75-70=218−4
T6Percy Alliss74-72-74=220−2
T6Dick Burton74-71-75=220−2
T6Marcel Dallemagne73-72-75=220−2
T6Dai Rees77-71-72=220−2
10Bill Davies72-76-73=221−1

Source:

Final round

Saturday, 27 June 1936
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
1Alf Padgham73-72-71-71=287−9100
2Jimmy Adams71-73-71-73=288−875
T3Henry Cotton73-72-70-74=289−740
T3Marcel Dallemagne73-72-75-69=289−740
T5Percy Alliss74-72-74-71=291−521
13s 4d
T5Tom Green74-72-70-75=291−521
13s 4d
T5Gene Sarazen73-75-70-73=291−521
13s 4d
T8Arthur Lacey76-74-72-72=294−215
T8Bobby Locke 75-73-72-74=294−20
T8Reg Whitcombe72-77-71-74=294−215

Source:
Amateurs: Locke, Thomson, Francis, McLean, Ferrier, Flaherty,
Woollam, Roberts, Pennink, Timmis, Walker