Considering the first men’s Major was held 164 years ago, the number of players to win one of the events at their first attempt is remarkably small.
In fact, if we take the Majors as they are recognized today – The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and The Open (previously, The Amateur Championship and US Amateur were also regarded as Majors) – only eight players have won on their Major debut.
Even then, the first time it happened, which came at the 1860 Open, was by default. That’s because, as it was the first Major, someone had to win on debut.
Here are the stories of the eight players on one of golf’s most exclusive lists, and how they did it.
Willie Park Sr – The Open (1860)
Scot Willie Park Sr makes the list as the winner of the first-ever Major, The Open in 1860. The event was held at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland and it was played to determine who would become regarded as the best player in the world after the death of Allen Robertson a year earlier.
Just eight players were in the field, with the event taking place over three rounds of 12 holes. Park Sr took the honours by two shots over Tom Morris Sr, writing his name in the history books in the process. He went on to win the tournament three more times.
Tom Kidd – The Open (1873)
In 1873, The Open moved away from Prestwick for the first time, taking place at The Old Course, St Andrews. By that point, the tournament was played over two rounds of 18 holes, and Kidd carded rounds of 91 and 88 to beat Jamie Anderson by a shot for what would be his only Major win.
As well as being the first recipient of the Claret Jug, Kidd also received £11 from the overall purse of £25.
Mungo Park – The Open (1874)
Musselburgh Links in Scotland held The Open for the first time in 1874, so it was appropriate that local player Park won.
The field of 32 competed over four rounds of nine holes. An opening round of 37 set Park on his way and he eventually edged out Tom Morris Jr by two to claim the trophy and £8 prize money. Park made four more top-10 finishes at the tournament, but his debut remained his one victory.
Horace Rawlins – US Open (1895)
In 1895 a second Major was introduced, the US Open, and it was Englishman Horace Rawlins who won it in his first Major appearance. He was one of 11 players at the Newport Country…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly…