Willie Anderson (golfer)

For the Scotland national rugby union team coach, see Willie Anderson (rugby player)
Willie Anderson
 Golfer 

Anderson at the 1909 Western Open
Personal information
Full name William Law Anderson
Born (1879-10-21)21 October 1879
North Berwick, Scotland, UK
Died 25 October 1910(1910-10-25) (aged 31)
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality  Scotland
Spouse Agnes Beakley
Career
Status Professional
Best results in major championships
(wins: 4)
U.S. Open Won: 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1975 (member page)

William Law Anderson (21 October 1879 – 25 October 1910) was a Scottish immigrant to the United States who became the first golfer to win four U.S. Opens, with victories in 1901, 1903, 1904, and 1905. He is still the only man to win three consecutive titles, and only Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus have equalled his total of four championships. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Early life

Anderson was born in North Berwick, in East Lothian, Scotland. He was educated at the public school in North Berwick and was a licensed caddie on the West Links at the age of 11. Upon leaving school he apprenticed as a club maker under Alex Aitken in Gullane. At age 16 Anderson emigrated from Scotland to the United States in March 1896—sailing aboard the S.S. Pomeranian from Glasgow—along with his father, Thomas Anderson, and his brother Tom, landing at Ellis Island.[1] He played in the U.S. Open the following year, finishing in second place by one stroke, after Joe Lloyd eagled the final hole.

Golf career

His first significant win came in 1899 at the Southern California Open, before he started his run at the U.S. Open. In the 14 straight Opens that he played, Anderson won four, was second once, third once, fourth twice, fifth three times, 11th twice and 15th once. He won titles with both the old gutta-percha golf ball, and the rubber-cored ball which came into use in 1902. Anderson also won the Western Open in 1902, 1904, 1908, and 1909.

Anderson's accuracy with all clubs, combined with his concentration under pressure, made him a formidable and highly respected competitor. Anderson made his living as a golf professional, working at ten different clubs in fourteen years. He listed the Apawamis Club in Rye, New York as his home course from 1901 through 1906.[2] He played many exhibition challenge matches for stakes, in addition to tournaments.[3]

Death and legacy

Anderson died at age 31, officially from epilepsy[1] in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Golf historian Robert Sommers wrote—incorrectly as it turned out—that Anderson 'drank himself to death'.[3] He is buried in Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.[4]

Anderson was an original member of the PGA Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975.

Willie Anderson (left) with Alex Smith, whom he beat in a playoff to win in 1901
Willie Anderson, c. 1905

Major championships

Wins (4)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1901 U.S. Open 1 shot deficit 84-83-83-81=331 Playoff 1 Scotland Alex Smith
1903 U.S. Open (2)6 shot lead 73-76-76-82=307 Playoff 2Scotland David Brown
1904 U.S. Open (3)2 shot deficit 75-78-78-72=303 5 strokes United States Gilbert Nicholls
1905 U.S. Open (4)1 shot deficit 81-80-76-77=314 2 strokes Scotland Alex Smith

1 Defeated Alex Smith in an 18-hole playoff: Anderson (85), Smith (86)
2 Defeated David Brown in an 18-hole playoff: Anderson (82), Brown (84)

Results timeline

Among the majors, Anderson played in only the U.S. Open.

Tournament 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910
U.S. Open 2 3 5 T11 1 T5[5] 1 1 1 5 15 4 T4 11

"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gold, Jeff (2015). Golf's Forgotten Legends & Unforgettable Controversies. New York: Morgan James Publishing. pp. 20–28. ISBN 978-1-63047-303-7. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. "The Chicago Daily News Almanac: For Harvard College". The Chicago Daily News. 1918. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 The U.S. Open: Golf's Ultimate Challenge, second edition, by Robert Sommers, 1995.
  4. Seaton, Douglas (2007). "Willie Anderson". Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  5. "Open Golf Champion". The Saint Paul Globe. Minnesota. 12 October 1902. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
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