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

Exploring the Career of Hall of Fame Offensive Guard Larry Little
As many of you may know, I recently wrote a book about Miami Dolphins

Some of the Most Iconic Soccer Rivalries and the Stories Behind Them
Soccer is more than a game. It’s passion, pride, and pure obsession. Across the

“Dem Bums” No More: The Story of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
From 1939 to 1954, the Brooklyn Dodgers had only one losing season and won

From Card Tables to Championships: The Lasting Influence of Casinos on Sports History
Casinos have been complex and fascinating actors in sports culture history. From sponsoring high-profile

Remembering the 1972 Cleveland Browns
How many NFL teams during the 1970s do you remember that lost all six

How the 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes Stack Up to Historic Teams
Few programs in college football carry the kind of gritty tradition that Iowa does.

1972 Dallas Cowboys: From Duane Thomas Drama to Staubach’s Stunning Comeback
After posting an impressive 69–24–2 record over the last six seasons, including two NFC

Balancing School and Sports: Time Management Strategies for Student Athletes
Being a student athlete is about thriving in two high-pressure worlds at once: academics