1903 Open Championship


The 1903 Open Championship was the 43rd Open Championship, held 10–11 June at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Harry Vardon won the Championship for the fourth time, six strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Vardon, his younger brother.
All entries played 36 holes on the first day with all those within 19 strokes of the leader making the cut and playing 36 holes on the final day, with the additional provision that the final day's field had to contain at least 32 professionals.
After the opening round on Wednesday morning, Harry Vardon and defending champion Sandy Herd co-led at 73, three strokes ahead of the rest of the field. In the afternoon, Herd had a poor 83 and Harry Vardon's 77 gave him a four shot lead on 150 ahead of Andrew Scott, despite a seven at the 17th hole. The cut was at 169 and 59 advanced to the final two rounds. Rowland Jones was initially disqualified but later reinstated.
In the third round on Thursday morning, Harry Vardon scored 72, having reached the turn in 34. This gave him a seven-stroke lead over Jack White, with Herd and Tom Vardon ten shots behind. In the afternoon, White took a seven at the third hole which effectively gave Harry Vardon the title. Playing cautiously, he eventually finished with a 78. Tom Vardon had the best final round score of 74 and moved into second place ahead of White.

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2R3R4TotalFinish
Harry Vardon1896, 1898, 1899737772783001
Sandy Herd1902738376773094
James Braid1901777979753105
J.H. Taylor1894, 1895, 190080827876316T9
Willie Park Jr.1887, 188978868075319T15
Willie Fernie188378817689324T25
Harold Hilton 1892, 189781798381324T25
William Auchterlonie189383847984330T45

Source:
Did not enter: John Ball, Jack Burns.

Round summaries

First round

Wednesday, 10 June 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
T1Sandy Herd73
T1Harry Vardon73
T3Tom Vardon76
T3Tom Williamson76
T5James Braid77
T5Ernest Gray77
T5John Hunter77
T5Andrew Scott77
T5Jack White77
T10Robert Andrew 78
T10Willie Fernie78
T10James Hepburn78
T10James Kinnell78
T10Willie Park Jr.78

Source:

Second round

Wednesday, 10 June 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Harry Vardon73-77=150
2Andrew Scott77-77=154
T3Willie Hunter Sr.81-74=155
T3Jack White77-78=155
T5James Braid77-79=156
T5Sandy Herd73-83=156
T5John Hunter77-79=156
T5Tom Williamson76-80=156
9Tom Vardon76-81=157
T10George Cawsey80-78=158
T10Bill Leaver79-79=158

Source:

Third round

Thursday, 11 June 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScore
1Harry Vardon73-77-72=222
2Jack White77-78-74=229
T3Tom Vardon76-81-75=232
T3Sandy Herd73-83-76=232
T5George Cawsey80-78-76=234
T5Willie Hunter Sr.81-74-79=234
T7James Braid77-79-79=235
T7Willie Fernie78-81-76=235
T7Bill Leaver79-79-77=235
T7Tom Williamson76-80-79=235

Source:

Final round

Thursday, 11 June 1903
PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney
1Harry Vardon73-77-72-78=30050
2Tom Vardon76-81-75-74=30625
3Jack White77-78-74-79=30815
4Sandy Herd73-83-76-77=30910
5James Braid77-79-79-75=3107 10s
T6Andrew Scott77-77-83-77=3143 15s
T6Robert Thomson83-78-77-76=3143 15s
8Bill Leaver79-79-77-80=3150
T9George Cawsey80-78-76-82=3160
T9J.H. Taylor80-82-78-76=3160

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