The 1913 U.S. Open is considered by many golf historians one of the most important developments in the history of golf in America - the most important development in the game’s early history in the United States.

That’s because the tournament was won by a little-known amateur, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet, a native-born American who defeated two British titans in a playoff. So it was a David-vs.-Goliath(s) story that caught the public imagination.

And Ouimet, being a former caddie - a “commoner” - showed that golf didn’t have to be a game only for the wealthy and privileged. “Regular” people could enjoy the game, too.

Golf enjoyed a huge growth spurt in America in the following years, and Ouimet’s defeat of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open is given much of the credit for that.

Ouimet was 20 years old. He had grown up near The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and caddied at the club. That surely helped him, since The Country Club is where the 1913 U.S. Open was played.

Ray and the legendary Vardon were on an exhibition tour of the United States, which is how they came to play in the U.S. Open (travel across the Atlantic for golf tournaments was very rare in these days). Vardon was favored over the field, and Vardon and Ray - and just about everyone else - were favored over Ouimet.

Vardon shared the 36-hole lead with Ray two back and Ouimet four behind. Those three were tied for the lead following the third round. And in the final round - with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, in tow - Ouimet, against all expectations, matched Vardon and Ray again, and the trio ended 72 holes tied at 304. Ouimet forced his way into the playoff with a birdie on the 71st hole.

In the playoff, Ouimet shot his best score of the week, a 72, to beat Vardon by five and Ray by six. Ray wasn’t much of a factor in the playoff, but Vardon gave chase until late in the action. Ouimet’s lead was only one stroke after 16, but a birdie on the 17th essentially sealed his unlikely victory.

Ouimet went on to win two U.S. Amateur titles, remaining an amateur throughout his life.

Two-time defending champion John McDermott finished eighth. Future 2-time U.S. Open winner and 11-time major champion Walter Hagen made his U.S. Open debut here, finishing tied for fourth.

1913 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores

Results from the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (x-won playoff; a-amateur):

x-a-Francis Ouimet 77-74-74-79–304

Harry Vardon 75-72-78-79–304 $300

Ted Ray 79-70-76-79–304 $150

Jim Barnes 74-76-78-79–307 $78

Walter Hagen 73-78-76-80–307 $78

Macdonald Smith 71-79-80-77–307 $78

Louis Tellier 76-76-79-76–307 $78

John McDermott 74-79-77-78–308 $50

Herbert Strong 75-74-82-79–310 $40

Pat Doyle 78-80-73-80–311 $30

a-W.C. Fownes Jr. 79-75-78-80–312

Elmer Loving 76-80-75-81–312 $20

Alex Campbell 77-80-76-80–313

Mike Brady 83-74-78-80–315

Matt Campbell 83-80-77-76–316

a-Fred Herreshoff 75-78-83-82–318

Jock Hutchison 77-76-80-85–318

Tom McNamara 73-86-75-84–318

Wilfred Reid 75-72-85-86–318

Alex Smith 82-75-82-79–318

a-Robert Andrews 83-73-83-80–319

Jack Croke 72-83-83-81–319

Charles Murray 80-80-80-79–319

Peter Robertson 79-80-78-82–319

George Sargent 75-76-79-89–319

Charles Thom 76-76-84-85–321

Jack Dowling 77-77-82-85–321

Bob Macdonald 80-79-84-79–322

a-Jerome Travers 78-78-81-85–322

Frank Belwood 79-83-80-81–323

James Donaldson 79-76-85-83–323

J.H. Taylor 81-80-78-84–323

Jack Hobens 78-79-84-83–324

Albert Murray 76-82-81-85–324

David Ogilvie 81-77-82-84–324

Herbert Barker 80-79-85-82–326

Alex Ross 71-80-93-82–326

Tom Anderson Jr. 82-83-82-80–327

Fred McLeod 80-85-82-80–327

Tom Vardon 85-78-79-85–327

John Shippen 81-73-87-87–328

James Thomson 80-80-84-84–328

Willie Maguire 85-80-82-82–329

Walter Fovargue 79-83-81-87–330

Karl Keffer 79-84-81-88–332

Joe Sylvester 81-81-87-83–332

George Cummings 81-79-88-86–334

Tom Bonnar 86-79-85-88–338

Robert Thomson 84-79-90-87–340

Back to list of U.S. Open Winners

Francis Ouimet Biography: The Amateur Who Energized American Golf

1995 U.S. Open: Pavin Comes Through in the Clutch

European Tour KLM Open

Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour

Open de Espana (Spanish Open) Golf Tournament

6 Great Golfers Who Suddenly Lost Their Games

U.S. Open Records

US Open Winners and Playoff Results

2009 Masters: A Playoff Victory for Cabrera

1966 US Open: A Famous Charge, an Infamous Collapse

Harry Vardon, Early Giant of Pro Golf

The American Express PGA Tour Golf Tournament

1973 US Open: 63 Reasons Johnny Miller Won

2008 US Open: Tiger Woods Wins a Thriller

2009 US Open: Surviving the Slog at Bethpage Black

2007 US Open: Cabrera Survives Oakmont

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When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The 1913 U.S. Open is considered by many golf historians one of the most important developments in the history of golf in America - the most important development in the game’s early history in the United States.

That’s because the tournament was won by a little-known amateur, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet, a native-born American who defeated two British titans in a playoff. So it was a David-vs.-Goliath(s) story that caught the public imagination.

And Ouimet, being a former caddie - a “commoner” - showed that golf didn’t have to be a game only for the wealthy and privileged. “Regular” people could enjoy the game, too.

Golf enjoyed a huge growth spurt in America in the following years, and Ouimet’s defeat of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open is given much of the credit for that.

Ouimet was 20 years old. He had grown up near The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and caddied at the club. That surely helped him, since The Country Club is where the 1913 U.S. Open was played.

Ray and the legendary Vardon were on an exhibition tour of the United States, which is how they came to play in the U.S. Open (travel across the Atlantic for golf tournaments was very rare in these days). Vardon was favored over the field, and Vardon and Ray - and just about everyone else - were favored over Ouimet.

Vardon shared the 36-hole lead with Ray two back and Ouimet four behind. Those three were tied for the lead following the third round. And in the final round - with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, in tow - Ouimet, against all expectations, matched Vardon and Ray again, and the trio ended 72 holes tied at 304. Ouimet forced his way into the playoff with a birdie on the 71st hole.

In the playoff, Ouimet shot his best score of the week, a 72, to beat Vardon by five and Ray by six. Ray wasn’t much of a factor in the playoff, but Vardon gave chase until late in the action. Ouimet’s lead was only one stroke after 16, but a birdie on the 17th essentially sealed his unlikely victory.

Ouimet went on to win two U.S. Amateur titles, remaining an amateur throughout his life.

Two-time defending champion John McDermott finished eighth. Future 2-time U.S. Open winner and 11-time major champion Walter Hagen made his U.S. Open debut here, finishing tied for fourth.

1913 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores

Results from the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (x-won playoff; a-amateur):

x-a-Francis Ouimet 77-74-74-79–304

Harry Vardon 75-72-78-79–304 $300

Ted Ray 79-70-76-79–304 $150

Jim Barnes 74-76-78-79–307 $78

Walter Hagen 73-78-76-80–307 $78

Macdonald Smith 71-79-80-77–307 $78

Louis Tellier 76-76-79-76–307 $78

John McDermott 74-79-77-78–308 $50

Herbert Strong 75-74-82-79–310 $40

Pat Doyle 78-80-73-80–311 $30

a-W.C. Fownes Jr. 79-75-78-80–312

Elmer Loving 76-80-75-81–312 $20

Alex Campbell 77-80-76-80–313

Mike Brady 83-74-78-80–315

Matt Campbell 83-80-77-76–316

a-Fred Herreshoff 75-78-83-82–318

Jock Hutchison 77-76-80-85–318

Tom McNamara 73-86-75-84–318

Wilfred Reid 75-72-85-86–318

Alex Smith 82-75-82-79–318

a-Robert Andrews 83-73-83-80–319

Jack Croke 72-83-83-81–319

Charles Murray 80-80-80-79–319

Peter Robertson 79-80-78-82–319

George Sargent 75-76-79-89–319

Charles Thom 76-76-84-85–321

Jack Dowling 77-77-82-85–321

Bob Macdonald 80-79-84-79–322

a-Jerome Travers 78-78-81-85–322

Frank Belwood 79-83-80-81–323

James Donaldson 79-76-85-83–323

J.H. Taylor 81-80-78-84–323

Jack Hobens 78-79-84-83–324

Albert Murray 76-82-81-85–324

David Ogilvie 81-77-82-84–324

Herbert Barker 80-79-85-82–326

Alex Ross 71-80-93-82–326

Tom Anderson Jr. 82-83-82-80–327

Fred McLeod 80-85-82-80–327

Tom Vardon 85-78-79-85–327

John Shippen 81-73-87-87–328

James Thomson 80-80-84-84–328

Willie Maguire 85-80-82-82–329

Walter Fovargue 79-83-81-87–330

Karl Keffer 79-84-81-88–332

Joe Sylvester 81-81-87-83–332

George Cummings 81-79-88-86–334

Tom Bonnar 86-79-85-88–338

Robert Thomson 84-79-90-87–340

Back to list of U.S. Open Winners

Francis Ouimet Biography: The Amateur Who Energized American Golf

1995 U.S. Open: Pavin Comes Through in the Clutch

European Tour KLM Open

Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour

Open de Espana (Spanish Open) Golf Tournament

6 Great Golfers Who Suddenly Lost Their Games

U.S. Open Records

US Open Winners and Playoff Results

2009 Masters: A Playoff Victory for Cabrera

1966 US Open: A Famous Charge, an Infamous Collapse

Harry Vardon, Early Giant of Pro Golf

The American Express PGA Tour Golf Tournament

1973 US Open: 63 Reasons Johnny Miller Won

2008 US Open: Tiger Woods Wins a Thriller

2009 US Open: Surviving the Slog at Bethpage Black

2007 US Open: Cabrera Survives Oakmont

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The 1913 U.S. Open is considered by many golf historians one of the most important developments in the history of golf in America - the most important development in the game’s early history in the United States.

That’s because the tournament was won by a little-known amateur, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet, a native-born American who defeated two British titans in a playoff. So it was a David-vs.-Goliath(s) story that caught the public imagination.

And Ouimet, being a former caddie - a “commoner” - showed that golf didn’t have to be a game only for the wealthy and privileged. “Regular” people could enjoy the game, too.

Golf enjoyed a huge growth spurt in America in the following years, and Ouimet’s defeat of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open is given much of the credit for that.

Ouimet was 20 years old. He had grown up near The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and caddied at the club. That surely helped him, since The Country Club is where the 1913 U.S. Open was played.

Ray and the legendary Vardon were on an exhibition tour of the United States, which is how they came to play in the U.S. Open (travel across the Atlantic for golf tournaments was very rare in these days). Vardon was favored over the field, and Vardon and Ray - and just about everyone else - were favored over Ouimet.

Vardon shared the 36-hole lead with Ray two back and Ouimet four behind. Those three were tied for the lead following the third round. And in the final round - with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, in tow - Ouimet, against all expectations, matched Vardon and Ray again, and the trio ended 72 holes tied at 304. Ouimet forced his way into the playoff with a birdie on the 71st hole.

In the playoff, Ouimet shot his best score of the week, a 72, to beat Vardon by five and Ray by six. Ray wasn’t much of a factor in the playoff, but Vardon gave chase until late in the action. Ouimet’s lead was only one stroke after 16, but a birdie on the 17th essentially sealed his unlikely victory.

Ouimet went on to win two U.S. Amateur titles, remaining an amateur throughout his life.

Two-time defending champion John McDermott finished eighth. Future 2-time U.S. Open winner and 11-time major champion Walter Hagen made his U.S. Open debut here, finishing tied for fourth.

1913 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores

Results from the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (x-won playoff; a-amateur):

x-a-Francis Ouimet 77-74-74-79–304

Harry Vardon 75-72-78-79–304 $300

Ted Ray 79-70-76-79–304 $150

Jim Barnes 74-76-78-79–307 $78

Walter Hagen 73-78-76-80–307 $78

Macdonald Smith 71-79-80-77–307 $78

Louis Tellier 76-76-79-76–307 $78

John McDermott 74-79-77-78–308 $50

Herbert Strong 75-74-82-79–310 $40

Pat Doyle 78-80-73-80–311 $30

a-W.C. Fownes Jr. 79-75-78-80–312

Elmer Loving 76-80-75-81–312 $20

Alex Campbell 77-80-76-80–313

Mike Brady 83-74-78-80–315

Matt Campbell 83-80-77-76–316

a-Fred Herreshoff 75-78-83-82–318

Jock Hutchison 77-76-80-85–318

Tom McNamara 73-86-75-84–318

Wilfred Reid 75-72-85-86–318

Alex Smith 82-75-82-79–318

a-Robert Andrews 83-73-83-80–319

Jack Croke 72-83-83-81–319

Charles Murray 80-80-80-79–319

Peter Robertson 79-80-78-82–319

George Sargent 75-76-79-89–319

Charles Thom 76-76-84-85–321

Jack Dowling 77-77-82-85–321

Bob Macdonald 80-79-84-79–322

a-Jerome Travers 78-78-81-85–322

Frank Belwood 79-83-80-81–323

James Donaldson 79-76-85-83–323

J.H. Taylor 81-80-78-84–323

Jack Hobens 78-79-84-83–324

Albert Murray 76-82-81-85–324

David Ogilvie 81-77-82-84–324

Herbert Barker 80-79-85-82–326

Alex Ross 71-80-93-82–326

Tom Anderson Jr. 82-83-82-80–327

Fred McLeod 80-85-82-80–327

Tom Vardon 85-78-79-85–327

John Shippen 81-73-87-87–328

James Thomson 80-80-84-84–328

Willie Maguire 85-80-82-82–329

Walter Fovargue 79-83-81-87–330

Karl Keffer 79-84-81-88–332

Joe Sylvester 81-81-87-83–332

George Cummings 81-79-88-86–334

Tom Bonnar 86-79-85-88–338

Robert Thomson 84-79-90-87–340

Back to list of U.S. Open Winners

The 1913 U.S. Open is considered by many golf historians one of the most important developments in the history of golf in America - the most important development in the game’s early history in the United States.

That’s because the tournament was won by a little-known amateur, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet, a native-born American who defeated two British titans in a playoff. So it was a David-vs.-Goliath(s) story that caught the public imagination.

And Ouimet, being a former caddie - a “commoner” - showed that golf didn’t have to be a game only for the wealthy and privileged. “Regular” people could enjoy the game, too.

Golf enjoyed a huge growth spurt in America in the following years, and Ouimet’s defeat of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open is given much of the credit for that.

Ouimet was 20 years old. He had grown up near The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and caddied at the club. That surely helped him, since The Country Club is where the 1913 U.S. Open was played.

Ray and the legendary Vardon were on an exhibition tour of the United States, which is how they came to play in the U.S. Open (travel across the Atlantic for golf tournaments was very rare in these days). Vardon was favored over the field, and Vardon and Ray - and just about everyone else - were favored over Ouimet.

Vardon shared the 36-hole lead with Ray two back and Ouimet four behind. Those three were tied for the lead following the third round. And in the final round - with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, in tow - Ouimet, against all expectations, matched Vardon and Ray again, and the trio ended 72 holes tied at 304. Ouimet forced his way into the playoff with a birdie on the 71st hole.

In the playoff, Ouimet shot his best score of the week, a 72, to beat Vardon by five and Ray by six. Ray wasn’t much of a factor in the playoff, but Vardon gave chase until late in the action. Ouimet’s lead was only one stroke after 16, but a birdie on the 17th essentially sealed his unlikely victory.

Ouimet went on to win two U.S. Amateur titles, remaining an amateur throughout his life.

Two-time defending champion John McDermott finished eighth. Future 2-time U.S. Open winner and 11-time major champion Walter Hagen made his U.S. Open debut here, finishing tied for fourth.

1913 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores

Results from the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (x-won playoff; a-amateur):

x-a-Francis Ouimet 77-74-74-79–304

Harry Vardon 75-72-78-79–304 $300

Ted Ray 79-70-76-79–304 $150

Jim Barnes 74-76-78-79–307 $78

Walter Hagen 73-78-76-80–307 $78

Macdonald Smith 71-79-80-77–307 $78

Louis Tellier 76-76-79-76–307 $78

John McDermott 74-79-77-78–308 $50

Herbert Strong 75-74-82-79–310 $40

Pat Doyle 78-80-73-80–311 $30

a-W.C. Fownes Jr. 79-75-78-80–312

Elmer Loving 76-80-75-81–312 $20

Alex Campbell 77-80-76-80–313

Mike Brady 83-74-78-80–315

Matt Campbell 83-80-77-76–316

a-Fred Herreshoff 75-78-83-82–318

Jock Hutchison 77-76-80-85–318

Tom McNamara 73-86-75-84–318

Wilfred Reid 75-72-85-86–318

Alex Smith 82-75-82-79–318

a-Robert Andrews 83-73-83-80–319

Jack Croke 72-83-83-81–319

Charles Murray 80-80-80-79–319

Peter Robertson 79-80-78-82–319

George Sargent 75-76-79-89–319

Charles Thom 76-76-84-85–321

Jack Dowling 77-77-82-85–321

Bob Macdonald 80-79-84-79–322

a-Jerome Travers 78-78-81-85–322

Frank Belwood 79-83-80-81–323

James Donaldson 79-76-85-83–323

J.H. Taylor 81-80-78-84–323

Jack Hobens 78-79-84-83–324

Albert Murray 76-82-81-85–324

David Ogilvie 81-77-82-84–324

Herbert Barker 80-79-85-82–326

Alex Ross 71-80-93-82–326

Tom Anderson Jr. 82-83-82-80–327

Fred McLeod 80-85-82-80–327

Tom Vardon 85-78-79-85–327

John Shippen 81-73-87-87–328

James Thomson 80-80-84-84–328

Willie Maguire 85-80-82-82–329

Walter Fovargue 79-83-81-87–330

Karl Keffer 79-84-81-88–332

Joe Sylvester 81-81-87-83–332

George Cummings 81-79-88-86–334

Tom Bonnar 86-79-85-88–338

Robert Thomson 84-79-90-87–340

Back to list of U.S. Open Winners

Back to list of U.S. Open Winners

  • Francis Ouimet Biography: The Amateur Who Energized American Golf

  • 1995 U.S. Open: Pavin Comes Through in the Clutch

  • European Tour KLM Open

  • Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour

  • Open de Espana (Spanish Open) Golf Tournament

  • 6 Great Golfers Who Suddenly Lost Their Games

  • U.S. Open Records

  • US Open Winners and Playoff Results

  • 2009 Masters: A Playoff Victory for Cabrera

  • 1966 US Open: A Famous Charge, an Infamous Collapse

  • Harry Vardon, Early Giant of Pro Golf

  • The American Express PGA Tour Golf Tournament

  • 1973 US Open: 63 Reasons Johnny Miller Won

  • 2008 US Open: Tiger Woods Wins a Thriller

  • 2009 US Open: Surviving the Slog at Bethpage Black

  • 2007 US Open: Cabrera Survives Oakmont

Francis Ouimet Biography: The Amateur Who Energized American Golf

Francis Ouimet Biography: The Amateur Who Energized American Golf

1995 U.S. Open: Pavin Comes Through in the Clutch

1995 U.S. Open: Pavin Comes Through in the Clutch

European Tour KLM Open

European Tour KLM Open

Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour

Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour

Open de Espana (Spanish Open) Golf Tournament

Open de Espana (Spanish Open) Golf Tournament

6 Great Golfers Who Suddenly Lost Their Games

6 Great Golfers Who Suddenly Lost Their Games

U.S. Open Records

U.S. Open Records

US Open Winners and Playoff Results

US Open Winners and Playoff Results

2009 Masters: A Playoff Victory for Cabrera

2009 Masters: A Playoff Victory for Cabrera

1966 US Open: A Famous Charge, an Infamous Collapse

1966 US Open: A Famous Charge, an Infamous Collapse

Harry Vardon, Early Giant of Pro Golf

Harry Vardon, Early Giant of Pro Golf

The American Express PGA Tour Golf Tournament

The American Express PGA Tour Golf Tournament

1973 US Open: 63 Reasons Johnny Miller Won

1973 US Open: 63 Reasons Johnny Miller Won

2008 US Open: Tiger Woods Wins a Thriller

2008 US Open: Tiger Woods Wins a Thriller

2009 US Open: Surviving the Slog at Bethpage Black

2009 US Open: Surviving the Slog at Bethpage Black

2007 US Open: Cabrera Survives Oakmont

2007 US Open: Cabrera Survives Oakmont

Home

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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

  • About Us

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  • Careers

  • Privacy Policy

  • Editorial Guidelines

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  • Terms of Use

  • EU Privacy

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  • Careers

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies