Tee for Two...

You have probably guessed that today's offering is about the wonderful sport of golf.  As the second day of play at the 2015 British Open approaches, it seems a good time to publish some facts and statistics about the event...

In the 19th Century, Scotland's Allan Robertson was widely recognised as the world's best golfer, but at the tender age of 43, Robertson passed away in his home town of St. Andrews.  The year was 1859.  So, it was decided to introduce a competition to find a successor to the young man's throne.

The following year, the first British Open was staged at the Prestwick golf club, with a field of seven Scots and a lone Englishman.  The tournament was held over three rounds of Prestwick's twelve-hole course, and the winner was Scotland's Willie Park Sr.  Park won by two strokes from fellow countryman Tom Morris Sr.

The 1862 event saw the size of the field increased to 18, and Morris quickly gained revenge for the previous year's defeat, with a four stroke margin over Park.  The pair continued to dominate, winning seven (Morris won four, and Park three) out of the first eight stagings of the tournament.

From 1868, there appeared another dominant force; Old Tom Morris' son, Tom Morris Jr!  Young Tom won four straight Opens from 1868 to 1872 (there was no event in 1871), a feat which has never been repeated.  There have been several other four-time - or better - winners, as you will see, but first, here are some notes of interest...

The first non-Scot to win the Open was England's John Ball, in 1890.

The first non-Briton to win the Open was Arnaud Massy (France) in 1907.

The first non-European to win the Open was American Jock Hutchison in 1921.

The first Open not held at Prestwick was 1873, which was held at St. Andrews.

The first Open to be held outside of Scotland, was in 1894, which was held in Sandwich, Kent.

Only once has the Open been held outside of Scotland or England - at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 1951.

BRITISH WINNERS of the BRITISH OPEN

6 - Harry Vardon (Jersey) - 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914
5 - James Braid (Scotland) - 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910
5 - John Henry Taylor (England) - 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913
4 - Tom Morris Sr (Scotland) - 1861, 1862, 1864, 1867
4 - Tom Morris Jr (Scotland) - 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872
4 - Willie Park Sr (Scotland) - 1860, 1863, 1866, 1875
3 - Jamie Anderson (Scotland) - 1877, 1878, 1879
3 - Bob Ferguson (Scotland) - 1880, 1881, 1882
3 - Henry Cotton (England) - 1934, 1937, 1948
3 - Nick Faldo (England) - 1987, 1990, 1992
2 - Bob Martin (Scotland) - 1876, 1885
2 - Willie Park Jr (Scotland) - 1887, 1889
2 - Harold Hilton (England) - 1892, 1897

Scotland
1 - William Auchterlonie (1893), David Brown (1886), Jack Burns (1888), George Duncan (1920), Willie Fernie (1883), Sandy Hers (1902), Tom Kidd (1873), Hugh Kirkaldy (1891), Paul Lawrie (1999), Sandy Lyle (1985), Mungo Park (!874), Jack Simpson (1884), Andrew Strath (1865), Jack White (1904),

England
1 - John Ball (1890), Jim Barnes (1925), Dick Burton (1939), Max Faulkner (1951), Arthur Havers (1923), Alf Padgham (1936), Alf Perry (1935), Tony Jacklin (1969), Reg Whitcombe (1939)

Jersey
1 - Ted Ray (1912),

Northern Ireland
1 - Darren Clarke (2011), Fred Daly (1947), Rory McIlroy (2014)

BRITISH OPEN VENUES (by times hosted)

29 - Old Course at St. Andrews (Scotland)
24 - Prestwick Golf Club (Scotland)
16 - Muirfield (Scotland)
14 - Royal St. George's Golf Club (England)
12 - Royal Liverpool Golf Club (England)
11 - Royal Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club (England)
9 - Royal Birkdale Golf Club (England)
8 - Royal Troon Golf Club (Scotland)
7 - Carnoustie Golf Links (Scotland)
6 - Musselburgh Links (Scotland)
4 - Turnberry (Scotland)
2 - Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club (England)
1 - Prince's Golf Club (England)
1 - Royal Portrush Golf Club (Northern Ireland)