1937 Open Championship
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7–9 July 1937 |
| Location | Carnoustie, Scotland |
| Course(s) | Carnoustie Golf Links |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Field | 141 players, 47 after cut[1] |
| Cut | 153 |
| Prize fund | £500 |
| Winner's share | £100 |
| Champion | |
 Henry Cotton | |
| 290 (+6) | |
The 1937 Open Championship was the 72nd Open Championship, held 7–9 July at Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Scotland. Henry Cotton won the second of his three Open titles, prevailing by two strokes over a tough field that included many American stars.
The Ryder Cup was held just prior to the Open Championship and the members of the victorious American team decided to stay for the tournament, creating a star-studded field. An American, Ed Dudley, took the first round lead with a 70. Reg Whitcombe moved into the lead after the second round, with his brother Charles and Dudley two back. At this point, Henry Cotton was in 6th place, five shots back. The final two rounds were played in a steady, cold rain. Whitcombe maintained his lead with a third-round score of 74, two shots ahead of his brother, while Cotton moved up to three behind. The weather proved to be Whitcombe's downfall in the final round. On the 7th tee, his club slipped out of his hands as he was swinging and the ball traveled only 40 yards. He ended up taking a six and finished with a 76 and 292 total. Cotton did not seem affected by the conditions and arrived at the 18th needing only a six to win. His approach shot found a greenside bunker, but he was able to get down in five to post a 290 total. Only Charles Whitcombe could catch Cotton, but he could manage no better than a 76 and finished four strokes behind.
The American contingent that played the tournament included Byron Nelson and Sam Snead, both of whom were making their Open Championship debuts. Nelson played the Open just once more, not returning until 1955. Snead played four more Opens, but he won the championship in 1946. The American Ryder Cup captain, four-time Open champion Walter Hagen, finished in 26th place in his final Open appearance at age 44.
Final leaderboard
Friday, 9 July 1937
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Cotton | England | 74-72-73-71=290 | +6 |
| 2 | Reg Whitcombe | England | 72-70-74-76=292 | +8 |
| 3 | Charles Lacey |  United States | 76-75-70-72=293 | +9 |
| 4 | Charles Whitcombe | England | 73-71-74-76=294 | +10 |
| 5 | Byron Nelson | United States | 75-76-71-74=296 | +12 |
| 6 | Ed Dudley | United States | 70-74-78-75=297 | +13 |
| T7 | Arthur Lacey | England | 75-73-75-75=298 | +14 |
| William Laidlaw |  United Kingdom | 77-72-73-76=298 | ||
| Alf Padgham | England | 72-74-76-76=298 | ||
| 10 | Horton Smith | United States | 77-71-79-72=299 | +15 |
References
- ↑ "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 96. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
External links
| Preceded by 1937 U.S. Open |
Major Championships | Succeeded by 1938 Masters Tournament |
Coordinates: 56°29′49″N 2°43′01″W / 56.497°N 2.717°W