The 1906 Open Championship was the 46th Open Championship, held 13–15 June at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Defending champion James Braid won the Championship for the third time, four strokes ahead of runner-up J.H. Taylor.
There was no qualifying competition. All entries played 18 holes in pairs on the first two days with all those within 14 strokes of the leader making the cut and playing 36 holes on the final day.
The feature of the opening round on Wednesday was the play of the amateurs. John Graham Jr. led with a 71, while Robert Maxwell was amongst those tied for second on 73 with Robert Whitecross and Hugh Watt, both from Dirleton Castle Golf Club, a further shot behind.
Taylor and Harry Vardon came to fore in the second round on Thursday. Taylor was out in 41 but came back in 31, despite three-putting the last. Vardon was only a shot worse with a 73. Taylor led on 149, with Vardon and Graham on 150; 72 players were within 14 shots of Taylor and made the cut.
Taylor's third round 75 on Friday morning was good enough for him to retain the lead by a stroke over Rowland Jones and three over Braid and Vardon. In the final round that afternoon, Jones scored a disappointing 83 to drop out of contention, while Taylor scored 80 and Vardon 78. Only two players bettered 77, Walter Toogood with a 71 and Braid with a 73, but Toogood was already out of the picture after an 83 in the morning. Needing a 76 for victory, Braid reached the turn in 38 and after more steady play he was left with two fives at the last two holes to win. A putt for a three at the 17th hole secured the victory.
Round summaries First round Wednesday, 13 June 1906 PlacePlayerScore1 John Graham Jr. (a) 71T2 George Duncan 73 Percy Hills Robert Maxwell (a)T5 Rowland Jones 74 Robert Whitecross (a) Hugh Watt (a)8 Ben Sayers Jr. 75T9 James Douglas Edgar 76 Arnaud Massy Thomas Renouf Robert Thomson Tom Vardon Source:
Second round Thursday, 14 June 1906 PlacePlayerScore1 J.H. Taylor 77-72=149T2 John Graham Jr. (a) 71-79=150 Harry Vardon 77-73=150T4 George Duncan 73-78=151 Robert Maxwell (a) 73-78=1516 Rowland Jones 74-78=152T7 James Braid 77-76=153 Thomas Renouf 76-77=153T9 Phil Gaudin 77-77=154 Ernest Gray 77-77=154 David Kinnell 78-76=154 Robert Thomson 76-78=154 Tom Williamson 77-77=154 Source:
Third round Friday, 15 June 1906 (morning) PlacePlayerScore1 J.H. Taylor 77-72-75=224 2 Rowland Jones 74-78-73=225T3 James Braid 77-76-74=227 Harry Vardon 77-73-77=227 T5 John Graham Jr. (a) 71-79-78=228 Robert Maxwell (a) 73-78-77=228 7 Thomas Renouf 76-77-76=229T8 Arnaud Massy 76-80-76=232 Ernest Gray 77-77-78=232 Tom Williamson 77-77-78=232 Source:
Final round Friday, 15 June 1906 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreMoney (£)1 James Braid 77-76-74-73=300 502 J.H. Taylor 77-72-75-80=304 253 Harry Vardon 77-73-77-78=305 154 John Graham Jr. (a) 71-79-78-78=306 05 Rowland Jones 74-78-73-83=308 106 Arnaud Massy 76-80-76-78=310 7 10s7 Robert Maxwell (a) 73-78-77-83=311 0T8 George Duncan 73-78-83-78=312 2 10s Ted Ray 80-75-79-78=312 Thomas Renouf 76-77-76-83=312 Source:
References
External links Muirfield 1906 (Official site)