Laurie Auchterlonie

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Laurence Auchterlonie, (1875 – January 20, 1948), usually known as Laurie, was a Scottish golfer. He was a native of St Andrews, the "Home of Golf". In 1902, representing the Chicago Golf Club, he won the eighth U.S. Open at Garden City Golf Club in Garden City, New York. He played with the recently invented Haskell rubber coated ball, which had first been used to win an important tournament the previous year, when Walter Travis used it at the U.S. Amateur and Sandy Herd at The Open Championship. It soon became the standard golf ball. Auchterlonie competed in the U.S. Open eleven times, finishing in the top ten on seven occasions. His other victories included the 1901 Western Open. He died in St Andrews at the age of 80.

Laurie Auchterlonie was related to Willie Auchterlonie, who won The Open Championship in 1893. Willie Auchterlonie had a son named Laurie who was to succeed his father as honorary professional to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. This Laurie Auchterlonie should not be confused with the U.S. Open winner.

Laurence Auchterlonie, representing the Chicago Golf Club, won at the Garden City (N.Y.) Golf Club, in October 1902. For the first time in the US Open Championship, 80 was broken in all four rounds as the Scot from St. Andrews posted 78-78-74-77-307.

The introduction of the Haskell rubber-core ball in this U.S. Open was at least partly responsible for the lower scoring.