The 1911 U.S. Open was the 17th U.S. Open, held June 23–26 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. Nineteen-year-old John McDermott became the first American-born champion by defeating Mike Brady and George Simpson in an 18-hole playoff.
Two past champions, Alec Ross and Fred McLeod, shared the 36-hole lead on Friday evening at 149 (−3), with McDermott, Brady, and Simpson four shots back at 153, in a five-way tie for fourth.
Ross struggled on a rainy Saturday with 81-82 for 312 (+8) and fell into a tie for ninth. McLeod had a three-stroke lead after 54 holes, but finished with 83 for 308. Simpson posted 79-75 for 307, while Brady tied Simpson with a final round 75. McDermott made a birdie on the final hole for 79 to join Simpson and Brady, forcing a three-way playoff. Sunday was an idle day.
In the playoff on Monday afternoon, McDermott led Brady by four after the turn, with Simpson one more back. Brady then played the next four holes in one-under par while McDermott made three consecutive bogeys, evening up the contest with four holes remaining. McDermott took the lead at the 15th after Brady missed a four-footer (1.2 m) for par, then sealed the championship with an approach to the par-5 18th that settled from the hole. He two-putted for birdie and 80, two strokes ahead of Brady and five clear of Simpson at 85.
At 19, McDermott became the youngest U.S. Open champion, a mark that still stands, and was also its first American-born champion. He successfully defended his title the following year, but by 1914 he began suffering from mental illness and his career was essentially over at age 23.
The Open Championship in England was held June 26−30 at Sandwich.
This was the first U.S. Open since the death of four-time champion Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905); he had played in the previous fourteen editions and died the previous October at age 31.
Course
HoleYardsParHoleYardsPar14685 1024142358411510533374123304441841351955334414300465685153644731041631848315417348491413184275 Out3,24937In3,35739Source: Total 6,60676
Round summaries First round Friday, June 23, 1911 (morning) PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Herbert Barker 75 −1 Alec Ross T3 Mike Brady 76 E George Sargent George SimpsonT6 Fred McLeod 77 +1 Tom McNamara Harry Turple T9 James Donaldson 78 +2 Otto Hackbarth Albert Seckel (a) Alex Smith Source:
Second round Friday, June 23, 1911 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Fred McLeod 77-72=149 −3 Alec Ross 74-75=1493 Otto Hackbarth 78-74=152 E T4 Mike Brady 76-77=153 +1 John McDermott 81-72=153 George Sargent 76-77=153 George Simpson 76-77=153 Harry Turpie 77-76=153T9 Gilbert Nicholls 76-78=154 +2 Alex Smith 78-76=154 Source:
Third round Saturday, June 24, 1911 (morning) PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Fred McLeod 77-72-76=225 −3T2 John McDermott 81-72-75=228 E Gilbert Nicholls 76-78-74=228T4 Alex Campbell 81-77-72=230 +2 Jock Hutchison 80-77-73=230 Alec Ross 74-75-81=230T7 Mike Brady 76-77-79=232 +4 George Simpson 76-77-79=232 T9 Herbert Barker 75-81-77=233 +5 Peter Robertson 79-76-78=233 Source:
Final round Saturday, June 24, 1911 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)T1 John McDermott 81-72-75-79=307 +3 Playoff Mike Brady 76-77-79-75=307 George Simpson 76-77-79-75=307 4 Fred McLeod 77-72-76-83=308 +4 80T5 Jock Hutchison 80-77-73-79=309 +5 65 Gilbert Nicholls 76-78-74-81=309T7 Herbert Barker 75-81-77-78=311 +7 45 George Sargent 76-77-84-74=311T9 Peter Robertson 79-76-78-79=312 +8 25 Alec Ross 74-75-81-82=312 Source:
Amateurs: Seckel (+9), Sawyer (+15), Phelps (+16), Gardner (+17), Egan (+17), Watson (+17),Ames (+22), Sellers (+31), Devol (+37).
Playoff Monday, June 26, 1911 PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)1 John McDermott 39-41=80 +4 3002 Mike Brady 43-39=82 +6 1503 George Simpson44-41=85 +9 100 Source:
Scorecard Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 161718Par544445443 454544445 McDermott +1+1+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+3+4+4+5+5+5+5+4 Brady −1+1+2+2+3+4+5+5+6+5+5+4+5+5+6+6+6+6 Simpson E+1+3+4+5+6+6+6+7+8+7+7+8+8+9+10+10+10 Source: BirdieBogeyDouble bogey
References
External links USGA Championship Database