Thursday, Jul. 16, 2009

Morris Major (1862)

One of the pioneers of professional golf, Old Tom Morris won four Opens, none more memorable than in 1862. His victory that year in Prestwick — the Open was played in that part of Scotland from 1860 to 1872 — held the record for the largest margin of victory in a major championship (13 strokes) until Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15.

Widely acknowledged as the first professional golfer, Morris also worked as a greens keeper, clubmaker and course designer. What's more, he kept it in the family: his son, Young Tom Morris (and why not?), followed in his footsteps by winning four Opens of his own. Father and son frequently competed as partners, and it's said that they never lost a match.