1911 U.S. Open (golf)

1911 U.S. Open

Tournament information
Dates	June 23–26, 1911
Location	Wheaton, Illinois
Course(s)	Chicago Golf Club
Organized by	USGA
Format	Stroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Par	76
Field	72, 60 after cut
Cut	168 (+16)
Winner's share	$300
Champion
John McDermott
307 (+3)

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 U.S. Open 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, with John McDermott, Mike Brady, and George Simpson part of a group three shots back. Ross struggled on the rainy final day, shooting rounds of 81-82 to finish in 9th place. Simpson posted a 307 total with rounds of 79-75, while Brady tied Simpson with a final round 75. McDermott made a birdie on the 18th of the final round to card a 79 and match Simpson and Brady, forcing a three-way playoff.

In the playoff on Monday, McDermott led Brady by four after the turn, with Simpson five back. Brady then played the next four holes in 1-under par while McDermott made three consecutive bogeys, evening up the contest heading to the 15th. McDermott took the lead after Brady missed a 4-footer for par, then sealed the championship with an approach to the 18th that settled 10 feet from the hole. He two-putted from there for an 80, two ahead of Brady and five ahead of Simpson.

At 19, McDermott became the youngest U.S. Open champion, a mark that still stands. He was also the first American-born champion of the U.S. Open. He would go on to successfully defend his title the following year, but by 1914 he began suffering from mental illness and his career was essentially over by age 23.

Final leaderboard

Saturday, June 24, 1911

Place	Player	Country	Score	To par	Money ($)
T1	John McDermott	United States	81-72-75-79=307	+3	Playoff
	Mike Brady	United States	76-77-79-75=307
	George Simpson	United States	76-77-79-75=307
4	Fred McLeod	Scotland	77-72-76-83=308	+4	80
T5	Jock Hutchison	Scotland	80-77-73-79=309	+5	65
	Gilbert Nicholls	England	76-78-74-81=309
T7	Herbert Barker	England	75-81-77-78=311	+7	45
	George Sargent	England	76-77-84-74=311
T9	Peter Robertson	Scotland	79-76-78-79=312	+8	25
	Alec Ross	Scotland	74-75-81-82=312

Playoff

Monday, June 26, 1911

Place	Player	Country	Score	To par	Money ($)
1	John McDermott	United States	80	+4	300
2	Mike Brady	United States	82	+6	150
3	George Simpson	United States	85	+9	100

External links

• 1911 U.S. Open
• USGA Championship Database