1913 US Open: Ouimet's Unlikely Victory Spurs Growth of US Golf

The 1913 U.S. Open is considered by many golf historians one of the most important developments in the history of golf in America - the most important development in the game's early history in the United States.

That's because the tournament was won by a little-known amateur, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet, a native-born American who defeated two British titans in a playoff. So it was a David-vs.-Goliath(s) story that caught the public imagination.

And Ouimet, being a former caddie - a "commoner" - showed that golf didn't have to be a game only for the wealthy and privileged. "Regular" people could enjoy the game, too.

Golf enjoyed a huge growth spurt in America in the following years, and Ouimet's defeat of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open is given much of the credit for that.

Ouimet was 20 years old. He had grown up near The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and caddied at the club. That surely helped him, since The Country Club is where the 1913 U.S. Open was played.

Ray and the legendary Vardon were on an exhibition tour of the United States, which is how they came to play in the U.S. Open (travel across the Atlantic for golf tournaments was very rare in these days). Vardon was favored over the field, and Vardon and Ray - and just about everyone else - were favored over Ouimet.

Vardon shared the 36-hole lead with Ray two back and Ouimet four behind. Those three were tied for the lead following the third round. And in the final round - with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, in tow - Ouimet, against all expectations, matched Vardon and Ray again, and the trio ended 72 holes tied at 304. Ouimet forced his way into the playoff with a birdie on the 71st hole.

In the playoff, Ouimet shot his best score of the week, a 72, to beat Vardon by five and Ray by six. Ray wasn't much of a factor in the playoff, but Vardon gave chase until late in the action. Ouimet's lead was only one stroke after 16, but a birdie on the 17th essentially sealed his unlikely victory.

Ouimet went on to win two U.S. Amateur titles, remaining an amateur throughout his life.

Two-time defending champion John McDermott finished eighth. Future 2-time U.S. Open winner and 11-time major champion Walter Hagen made his U.S. Open debut here, finishing tied for fourth.

1913 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores

Results from the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (x-won playoff; a-amateur):

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