The 1904 Open Championship was the 44th Open Championship, held 8–10 June at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Jack White won his only major title, one stroke ahead of runners-up James Braid and J.H. Taylor, both former champions.
For the first time, the Open was scheduled for three days; the final day remained at 36 holes, but the first two rounds were now over two days. Those within nineteen strokes of the leader made the 36-hole cut, with the additional provision that the final day's field had to contain at least 32 professionals.
The opening round on Wednesday was cold and windy, which led to some high scoring. Robert Thomson led with 75 after reaching the turn in 34. He was a shot ahead of amateur John Graham Jr. and Harry Vardon. It was less windy on Thursday for the second round, and Vardon led on 149, followed by Thomson on 151 and Graham on 152. James Sherlock set a new record for the Open with 71, while Willie Park Jr. scored 72; 52 players were within nineteen strokes of Vardon and made the cut at 168 or better.
Overnight rain and light winds made for some low scoring on Friday. Braid set a new Championship record with a 69 in the third round, reaching the turn in 31. White has the second best score with a 72. After the morning round, Braid led on 226 with White on 227; Vardon was at 228 after a disappointing 79.
White, one of the early starters in the afternoon, scored 69 for 296. Braid also played well but his 71 left him a shot behind. He holed a long putt at the 15th but a four at the short 16th left him too much to do. Taylor was the last player with a chance to catch White but needed a 67 to do so. Starting 3-3-2, he reached the turn in 32. However, like Braid, he took four at the 16th and also ended up a shot behind. His 68 was another new Open record. White's total of 296 was yet another, the first total under 300.
Round summaries First round Wednesday, 8 June 1904 PlacePlayerScore1 Robert Thomson 75T2 John Graham Jr. (a) 76 Harry VardonT4 James Braid 77 J.H. Taylor Tom Vardon7 Andrew Kirkaldy 78T8 George Coburn 79 Phil GaudinT10 Robert Maxwell 80 Ben Sayers Jack White Source:
Second round Thursday, 9 June 1904 PlacePlayerScore1 Harry Vardon 76-73=1492 Robert Thomson 75-76=1513 John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76=152T4 James Sherlock 83-71=154 Tom Vardon 77-77=154T6 J.H. Taylor 77-78=155 Jack White 80-75=1558 Willie Park Jr. 84-72=156T9 James Braid 77-80=157 Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79=157 Source:
Third round Friday, 10 June 1904 (morning) PlacePlayerScore1 James Braid 77-80-69=226 2 Jack White 80-75-72=227 3 Harry Vardon 76-73-79=228 T4 J.H. Taylor 77-78-74=229 Tom Vardon 77-77-75=229 6 John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76-78=230 T7 Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79-74=231 Robert Thomson 75-76-80=2319 James Sherlock 83-71-78=232 10 Ernest Gray 84-77-74=235 Source:
Final round Friday, 10 June 1904 (afternoon) PlacePlayerScoreMoney (£)1 Jack White 80-75-72-69=296 50T2 James Braid 77-80-69-71=297 20 J.H. Taylor 77-78-74-68=2974 Tom Vardon 77-77-75-72=301 105 Harry Vardon 76-73-79-74=302 710s6 James Sherlock 83-71-78-77=309 T7 John Graham Jr. (a) 76-76-78-80=310 0 Andrew Kirkaldy 78-79-74-79=310 9 Sandy Herd 84-76-76-75=311 T10 Robert Maxwell (a) 80-80-76-77=313 Ben Sayers 80-80-76-77=313 Source:
References
External links Royal St George's 1904 (Official site)