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
Sports History On This Day: June 9
June 9, 1930 – The “Flying Finn,” Paavo Nurmi ran 6 miles at a world
Sports History On This Day: June 8
June 8, 1920 – Sinatra tells us in his song New York, New York that
Riding the Back Roads: My Life in Sprint Car
It sounds like a nightmare… When your race car transport truck stops for gas,
Sports History On This Day: June 7
June 7, 1980 – Tommy John was a fantastic pitcher in his day. Many
Sports History On This Day: June 6
June 6, 1992 – Eddie Murray, the first baseman of the New York Mets knocked
No Potatoes For Fat Men! George Halas and the 1946 Chicago Bears
There are comebacks…and then there are comebacks! In 1946, the Chicago Bears won still
Sports History On This Day: June 5
June 5, 1952 – It is sports television history that occurred on this date! The
Sports History On This Day: June 4
June 4, 1927 – The very first Ryder Cup Golf tournament was held. Matches were