The 1928 Open Championship was the 63rd Open Championship, held 9–11 May at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Walter Hagen won the third of his four Open Championship titles, two strokes ahead of runner-up Gene Sarazen. It was his second triumph at Royal St George's, the site of his first Open win in 1922. It was the tenth of his eleven major titles; his second Open victory came in 1924 at Royal Liverpool.
For this year and the next, the Open was played earlier than usual, in early May, and Hagen won both. Qualifying was held on 7–8 May, Monday and Tuesday, with 18 holes at St George's and 18 holes at Prince's, and the top 100 and ties qualified. José Jurado led the qualifiers on 144, which included four Bradbeer brothers: James, Bob, Ernest, and Fred. The qualifying score was 162 and 113 players qualified.
Two-time defending champion Bobby Jones decided not to make the trip across the Atlantic this year, meaning all eyes were on other American stars. Two weeks prior, Walter Hagen played a match against Archie Compston and lost badly, 18 & 17. Realizing he needed practice, Hagen resolved to skip the parties for which he had become famous and concentrate on his game.
On Wednesday, Bill Mehlhorn opened with 71 to take the lead, with Sarazen a stroke behind. Mehlhorn had a poor 78 on the second day and José Jurado took over the lead on 145.«» Hagen and Sarazen were second on 148 with Mehlhorn and Archie Compston on 149. To make the cut, players would need to be within 14 strokes of the leader after 36 holes; it was at 159 and 52 players advanced.
On Friday morning, Hagen took the lead by a stroke from Jurado and Sarazen, two ahead of Compston. Hagen's 72 that afternoon gave him 292 and the victory, two shots ahead of Sarazen. Jurado had a disappointing 80 and dropped into a tie for sixth place. The prizes were presented by the Prince of Wales.
Six-time champion Harry Vardon, age 58, made his last cut in the Open Championship and tied for 47th. He qualified for the Open just once more, the following year.
The top 24 British-resident professionals in the final standings qualified for the Ryder Tournament in July.
Round summaries First round Wednesday, 9 May 1928 PlacePlayerScore1 Bill Mehlhorn 71 2 Gene Sarazen 72 3 José Jurado 74 T4 Percy Alliss 75 Archie Compston George Duncan Walter Hagen Bill Twine Syd Wingate T10 Stewart Burns 76 Jean Gassiat Fred Taggart Source:
Second round Thursday, 10 May 1928 PlacePlayerScore1 José Jurado 74-71=145 T2 Walter Hagen 75-73=148 Gene Sarazen 72-76=148 T4 Archie Compston 75-74=149 Bill Mehlhorn 71-78=149T6 Stewart Burns 76-74=150 Fred Taggart 76-74=150 Tom Williamson 77-73=150 9 Percy Alliss 75-76=151 T10 Aubrey Boomer 79-73=152 Henry Cotton 77-75=152 Bill Davies 78-74=152 George Duncan 75-77=152 Fred Robson 79-73=152 Source:
Third round Friday, 11 May 1928 (morning) PlacePlayerScore1 Walter Hagen 75-73-72=220 T2 José Jurado 74-71-76=221 Gene Sarazen 72-76-73=221 4 Archie Compston 75-74-73=222T5 Stewart Burns 76-74-75=225 Bill Mehlhorn 71-78-76=225 Fred Robson 79-73-73=2258 Percy Alliss 75-76-75=226 T9 Fred Taggart 76-74-77=227 Tom Williamson 77-73-77=227 Source:
Final round Friday, 11 May 1928 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreMoney (£)1 Walter Hagen 75-73-72-72=292 752 Gene Sarazen 72-76-73-73=294 503 Archie Compston 75-74-73-73=295 25T4 Percy Alliss 75-76-75-72=298 15 Fred Robson 79-73-73-73=298T6 Jim Barnes 81-73-76-71=301 10 Aubrey Boomer 79-73-77-72=301 José Jurado 74-71-76-80=3019 Bill Mehlhorn 71-78-76-77=302 10 Bill Davies 78-74-79-73=304 Source:
Amateurs: Perkins (307), Hezlet (309), Hope (312), R Hartley (316), Torrance (316), Evans (319)
References
External links Royal St George's 1928 (Official site)