May 20, 1897 – At just the second-ever playing of the British Open Men’s Golf, an amateur player took the tournament. Englishman Harold Hilton won the Open title by overcoming Scotland’s James Braid by 1 stroke at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. There have been only six times in history that an amateur has won the Open.
The British Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world and one of the most respected. Originally it was founded in 1860 and was held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.
Years later in 1873, the venue started to rotate among a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom including St. Andrews, Musselburgh, Muirfield, Royal St. Georges, and others. Winners now get to claim the trophy known as the Claret Jug.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Dominant Season of the 1986 New York Mets
After winning the World Series in 1969 and the National League Pennant in 1973,
Traditional Bookmakers vs. Modern Sportsbook Apps: What’s Changed for Bettors?
Credit Eslam Mohammed Abdelmaksoud via Pexels.com Sports betting has changed considerably over the past
Coming Back for the Ball in the 1970s
One of the important duties for any wide receiver in the sport of football
A look at the evolution of the NCAA College Basketball bracket
Every March, the NCAA tournament becomes a national discussion. Each upset seems personal in
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026: horses, history and what to watch
Few races in world horse racing carry the prestige of the Prix de l’Arc
From Box Scores to Live Data: How Fans Follow Sport
The games have changed less than you might think. A touchdown in 1970 counts
6 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator Projector: A 2026 Buyer’s Guide for Serious Home-Simulator Builds
Photo by A n v e s h on Unsplash The projector feeding your
The Epsom Derby Runnings That Made Racing History
The Derby was first run at Epsom Downs in 1780 and remains the most