Unsung heroes
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Their finest hour
Hugh Kirkaldy, St Andrews, 1891
The names inscribed on the Claret Jug include most of golf’s greatest-ever practitioners, but there are also some on there who tore up the form-book to produce the performance of a lifetime at The Open
Hugh Kirkaldy spent his golfing life in the shadow of his older brother. Andrew Kirkaldy was five years his senior and widely recognised as the better player. Yet it was Hugh who got his name on the old Claret Jug, bettering his sibling in the process. The 1891 championship over the Old Course at St Andrews was the last to be contested over 36 holes, both rounds played on the same day, with the following year’s tournament at Muirfield the first 72-hole Open. Hugh returned a pair of 83s on a cold day when heavy rain hindered scoring. His second round was distinctive: it was the first Open round at the Old Course not to include a six on the scorecard. His 166 total set a new scoring record in Opens at St Andrews, improving on the previous best by three shots. It gave him a two-shot victory over 1883 champion Willie Fernie and brother Andrew (who finished runner-up at The Open on three occasions).
Words: Alistair Tait
Not considered a stylist: Alfred Perry (above), champion at Muirfield in 1935. Bill Rogers (right) came within a whisker of missing his tee time at Royal St George’s in 1981, but ended up taking home the Claret Jug 100
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