Francis DeSales Ouimet was an American amateur golfer who is frequently referred to as the "father of amateur golf" in the United States. He won the U.S. Open in 1913 and was the first non-Briton elected Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
Walter Charles Hagen was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of 11 professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15). Known as the "father of professional golf," he brought publicity, prestige, big prize money, and lucrative endorsements to the sport. Hagen is rated one of the greatest golfers ever.
Jean van de Velde is a French professional golfer, who formerly played on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is best known for his runner-up finish at the 1999 Open Championship, where he lost a three-shot lead on the final hole.
Alexander Ross was a Scottish professional golfer. He was a native of Dornoch and learned his golf in his home country, but like many British professional golfers of his era he spent many years working as a club professional in the United States. While employed by the Brae Burn Country Club, near Boston, he won the 1907 U.S. Open at the St. Martin's course at Philadelphia Cricket Club. He competed in the U.S. Open seventeen times in total, and finished in the top-10 five times. His other tournament wins include the North and South Open six times, the Massachusetts Open six times and the Swiss Open three times.
Wilfrid Ewart "Wilfie" Reid was an English professional golfer and golf course designer. Reid was born in Bulwell, Nottingham, England, and died in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. He posted three top-10 finishes in major championship tournaments.
Michael Joseph Brady was an American professional golfer.
Brae Burn Country Club is a country club located in Newton, Massachusetts. Brae Burn was originally a six-hole golf course but quickly evolved into a nine-hole course and then a full 18-hole course. In 1912 and 1928, Donald Ross re-designed the course, convincing the USGA to host the 1919 U.S. Open and 1928 U.S. Amateur at the club. The course has been largely stable since then other than some modifications by Geoffrey Cornish in the 1960s. In the early 21st century, however, Brae Burn has been the source of some controversies regarding the existence of a chain-link fence the club has constructed as well as "generous tax breaks" Brae Burn has received from the State of Massachusetts.
The 1916 PGA Championship was the first PGA Championship, which is now considered one of golf's major championships. It was held October 10–14 at Siwanoy Country Club in Eastchester, New York, just north of New York City in Westchester County.
Thomas Lawrence McNamara, Sr. was an American professional golfer.
The 1919 United States Open was the 23rd U.S. Open. The tournament was held at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Massachusetts. The event is best remembered as a duel between Mike Brady and Walter Hagen as well as Hagen's showmanship. Brady took the solo second and third round leads but played poorly in the final round, shooting an 80, opening doors for Hagen. Hagen had a 10-foot putt on the final hole to win and solicited Brady, watching from the clubhouse, to observe him "win the U.S. Open." However, he barely missed provoking an 18-hole playoff the following day. The following morning, before the playoff, Hagen's showmanship continued as he dubiously presented himself as still disoriented from a night of partying. Regardless, like the final round, the playoff was a neck-and-neck struggle but, potentially helped by a "generous ruling" on the 17th hole, Hagen defeated Brady by one, 77-78, to win.
The 1913 U.S. Open was the 19th U.S. Open, held September 18–20 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb southwest of Boston. Amateur Francis Ouimet, age 20, won his only U.S. Open title in an 18-hole playoff, five strokes ahead of Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.
Gilbert Ernest Nicholls was an English-American professional golfer, prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He had eight top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open.
George Anderson Low Sr. was a Scottish-American professional golfer. Low finished tied for second place in the 1899 U.S. Open championship. In total, he had five top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open. He won the Metropolitan Open in 1906 and the Florida Open three times.
Alexander Campbell was a Scottish professional golfer and golf course architect of the late 19th and early 20th century. In total, Campbell had five top-10 finishes in major championships.
Charles Henry Mayo was an English professional golfer of the early 20th century. Mayo won the 1911 Belgian Open held at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium. Frenchman Arnaud Massy finished in second place. He had seven starts in the Open Championship, his best finish being T11 in 1912. He finished runner-up in the 1908 French Open and had five international appearances representing England against Scotland.
Patrick Joseph Doyle was an Irish-born professional golfer who played primarily in the United States. Doyle finished in tenth place in the 1913 U.S. Open. Doyle was a frequent competitor in the PGA Championship. He posted particularly good results in the 1926 and 1928 PGA Championships. In the 1926 tournament, he lost to Walter Hagen by the score of 6 and 5 in the quarter-finals.
Arthur Edwin Reid was an English professional golfer who played extensively in the United States. He won the 1905 Swiss Open and the 1918 Philadelphia Open Championship.
Isaac S. Mackie was a Scottish-American professional golfer who played in the late 19th and early 20th century. He apprenticed as a club maker under George Forrester. Following his brother Jack—who had emigrated to the United States in 1899—Mackie also made the trans-Atlantic journey in 1901. He took a job as professional at Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island soon after his arrival and remained in that post until 1914. In 1916, he was appointed the head professional at Canoe Brook Country Club, replacing Louis Tellier. In 1953 he was the head professional at Netherwood Golf Club in North Plainfield, New Jersey.
Charles Harvey Hoffner was an American professional golfer. His best finish in an important tournament was a win at the first Philadelphia PGA Championship in 1922. In major championships, Hoffner tied for 13th place in the 1914 and 1919 U.S. Opens. He finished T17 in the 1920, 1922, 1924, and 1925 PGA Championships.
Joseph Francis Sylvester was an American professional golfer and club maker who played in the early-to-mid 20th century. His best performances in major golf championships were a T24 finish in the 1923 U.S. Open and a T9 showing in the 1920 PGA Championship.
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