The 1901 U.S. Open was the seventh U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston. Willie Anderson won the first of his four U.S. Open titles in a playoff over Alex Smith.
Smith led after the first two rounds on Friday at 164, with Anderson three strokes back in third place. After the third round on Saturday morning, Stewart Gardner led at 249, with Anderson a stroke behind and Smith one back in third at 251. Garder had an 85 in the afternoon and fell to fourth. Both Anderson and Smith posted total scores of 331, the highest winning score in U.S. Open history, with Smith narrowly missing a putt at the 18th to win the championship in regulation.
The playoff, the first in U.S. Open history, was pushed back to Monday because Sunday was reserved for member play. Smith jumped out to a three-stroke lead at the turn and led by five shots with fives holes to play. He went 5-7-5-4 over the next four holes, while Anderson recorded all fours to even up the match. At the 18th, Anderson found the green in two while Smith's approach landed in the rough. Anderson two-putted for his four, while Smith chipped to with a chance to tie, but his putt went astray and failed to find the cup. Anderson finished with an 85, a stroke better than Smith.
Smith's brother Willie, the 1899 champion, finished in third place, two shots out of the playoff. Myopia club pro John Jones was twelfth, then caddied for Anderson during the playoff. For the only time in U.S. Open history, no player managed to break 80 in any round.
Anderson would go on to win a record four U.S. Open titles in five years, including three consecutive (1903–1905), yet to be repeated. His four titles have been matched by three others: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.
Round summaries First round Friday, June 14, 1901 (morning) PlacePlayerScore1 Laurie Auchterlonie 81T2 Arthur Lockwood (a) 82 George Low Alex Smith T5 Willie Anderson 84 Alex Campbell Bernard NichollsT8 David Brown 86 Val Fitzjohn Stewart Gardner Source:
Second round Friday, June 14, 1901 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScore1 Alex Smith 82-82=164 2 Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85=1663 Willie Anderson 84-83=167 4 Stewart Gardner 86-82=168T5 David Brown 86-83=169 Bernard Nicholls 84-85=1697 Willie Smith 84-86=170T8 John Jones 87-84=171 George Low 82-89=171 Jack Park 87-84=171 Source:
Third round Saturday, June 15, 1901 (morning) PlacePlayerScore1 Stewart Gardner 86-82-81=2492 Willie Anderson 84-83-83=250 3 Alex Smith 82-82-87=251 T4 Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85-86=252 David Brown 86-83-83=252 Bernard Nicholls 84-85-83=252 Willie Smith 84-86-82=252T8 George Low 82-89-85=256 Jack Park 87-84-85=25610 Alex Campbell 84-91-82=257 Source:
Final round Saturday, June 15, 1901 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreMoney ($)T1 Willie Anderson 84-83-83-81=331 Playoff Alex Smith 82-82-87-80=331 3 Willie Smith 84-86-82-81=333 1254 Stewart Gardner 86-82-81-85=334 100T5 Laurie Auchterlonie 81-85-86-83=335 75 Bernard Nicholls 84-85-83-83=3357 David Brown 86-83-83-84=336 508 Alex Campbell 84-91-82-82=339 25T9 George Low 82-89-85-85=341 0 Jack Park 87-84-85-85=341 Source:
Playoff Monday, June 17, 1901 PlacePlayerScoreMoney ($)1 Willie Anderson 43-42=85 2002 Alex Smith 40-46=86 150 Source:
References
External links USGA Championship Database