1896 U.S. Open (golf)

1896 U.S. Open
Tournament information
Dates July 18, 1896
Location Southampton, New York
Course(s) Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Organized by USGA
Format Stroke play − 36 holes
Statistics
Length 4,423 yards (4,044 m)
Field 35
Cut none
Prize fund $330
Winner's share $150
Champion
Scotland James Foulis
152
«1895
1897»
Shinnecock  
Hills GC  
Location in the United States

The 1896 U.S. Open was the second U.S. Open, held July 18 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. James Foulis won his first U.S. Open title, three strokes ahead of runner-up Horace Rawlins, the defending champion. Like the first Open, it was a sideshow to the U.S. Amateur. However, there were 35 entrants and 28 finished the 36 holes.

Before play began, several players signed a petition stating that they would not play if John Shippen, an African-American, and Oscar Bunn, a Native American, were allowed to play. The petition was denied, however, and the players relented. Shippen, a caddie at Shinnecock Hills, shot an opening round of 78, which placed him just two back of leader Joe Lloyd. He was in a position to win the championship until an 11 on the 13th hole of the final round. He finished tied for 6th place. James Foulis, third-place finisher in the inaugural U.S. Open the year before, recorded rounds of 78-74 to prevail by three over defending champion Horace Rawlins. Foulis's 74 set a record that was not broken until 1903, after the rubber-core ball had come into use.

At 4,423 yards (4,044 m), Shinnecock Hills played as the shortest course in U.S. Open history. Its next U.S. Open was 90 years later, in 1986.

Final leaderboard

Saturday, July 18, 1896

PlacePlayerCountryScoreMoney ($)
1 James Foulis  Scotland 78-74=152 150
2 Horace Rawlins  England 79-76=155 100
3 Joe Lloyd  England 76-81=157 50
T4 George Douglas  Scotland 79-79=158
Andrew Smith (a)  Canada 78-80=158 0
T6 John Shippen  United States 78-81=159 25
H. J. Whigham (a)  Scotland 82-77=159 0
8 Willie Tucker  England 78-82=160 5
9 Buff Wilson  Scotland 82-80=162 0
10 Alfred Ricketts  England 80-83=163
(a) denotes amateur

External links

Coordinates: 40°53′38″N 72°26′24″W / 40.894°N 72.440°W