June 23, 1922 – The British Open Men’s Golf tournament at the Royal St George’s Golf Club wrapped up. Walter Hagen became the first American-born winner of the Open Championship. It was not an easy victory for Hagen to say the least.
Walter’s overall 3-day score of 300 ended up 1 stroke ahead of runners-up were American Jim Barnes and England’s George Duncan who both shot 301 for the tourney according to an Associated Press story in the June 24, 1922, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Open started its history back in 1860, and since its conception, the tournament has been played in either Scotland, Ireland, or England every year.
I am sure the Brits were none too pleased that a Yank won their prestigious tourney of the links. Hagen would go on to take home the Claret-Jug three more times in his illustrious career to go along with winning the U.S. Open twice, the PGA Championship a record five times, and the Western Open a handful of tries too.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
NFL’s Youngest Ever Player Might Surprise You!
From a personal standpoint, I truly love the game of football…and to write about
The History of the Preakness Stakes: Where It All Began
This May 17, 2025, the Preakness Stakes will draw horse racing fans worldwide for
How Ohio Shaped The NFL: From The Birthplace To Rich Pro Football History
While today the great state of Ohio’s professional football teams are seen as something
NBA Player Heated Rivalries: Kevin Garnett vs. Tim Duncan
Some heated rivalries between players can simply be a case of bad blood that
Looking Back at the First Great Play of the 1970s: Tom Dempsey’s Epic Field Goal
The decade of the 1970s had numerous great plays in the NFL. Now this
The History and Future of Sports Gambling In Iowa – Looking at New Technologies and Possible Growth
Iowa has a long and distinguished history in sports. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes
The Early History of Sports Betting
In the eyes of many, sports betting is a relatively new phenomenon. A lot
Willis Brennan: The Chicago Cardinal Who Helped Solve One of America’s Most Notorious Crimes!
On November 6, 1927, a few thousand of his closest friends gathered to honor