Bob Ferguson (golfer)
| Bob Ferguson | |
|---|---|
|
Bob Ferguson, c. 1903 | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Robert Ferguson |
| Born |
c. 1846 Musselburgh, Scotland |
| Died |
19 May 1915 (aged 69) Musselburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality |
 Scotland |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 3) | |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1880, 1881, 1882 |
Robert Ferguson (c. 1846 – 19 May 1915), was a Scottish golfer who played in the late 19th century. He won a hat-trick of titles at The Open Championship in 1880, 1881 and 1882.[1]
In addition to the three Open Championship wins, he posted top-10 finishes seven times.
Early life
Ferguson was born in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, circa 1846.
Golf career
In addition to his three Open Championship titles, Ferguson was especially noted for his putting, not only on the green but off. He specialized in "run up" shots with his putter—the so-called "Musselburgh iron"—from well off the green.[2] He is one of only four men who have won The Open three years in a row. The prize for his first win was £7.
Ferguson's home town of Musselburgh was one of the three venues in the Open Championship rotation. He started caddying at the age of eight and played his first competition at Leith when he was eighteen. His playing career was cut short by a bout of typhoid and he became the custodian of the Links at Musselburgh.
Death and legacy
Ferguson died in Musselburgh on 19 May 1915.[3][4][5] He is best remembered for winning the Open Championship three consecutive times.
Major championships
Wins (3)
| Year | Championship | 18/24 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | 40-41-42-39=162 | 5 strokes | Peter Paxton |
| 1881 | The Open Championship (2) | 3 shot lead | 53-60-57=170 | 3 strokes | Jamie Anderson |
| 1882 | The Open Championship (3) | 3 shot lead | 83-88=171 | 3 strokes | Willie Fernie |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 5 | DNP | DNP | NT | DNP | DNP | T8 | 4 | DNP | T3 | DNP | 6 |
| Tournament | 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | DNP | DNP | T4 | DNP | DNP | T15 |
- Note: Ferguson played only in The Open Championship.
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
References
- ↑ "Three in a row for the Musselburgh champion". The Open. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ↑ Campbell, Malcolm. The Scottish Golf Book. Champaign, Illinois: Sport Publishing L.L.C. p. 40. ISBN 1-58382-053-1.
- ↑ "Deaths in the District of Inveresk and Musselburgh in the County of Midlothian". Statutory Deaths 689/00 0138. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 19 February 2015. (Subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "General Scottish news – Former golf champion dies". The Glasgow Herald. 20 May 1915. p. 5.
- ↑ "Racing at Bath". The Times. 20 May 1915. p. 13.