1882 / St Andrews

Just as Jamie Anderson had done three years earlier, Bob Ferguson completed a hat-trick of victories at St Andrews in 1882.

Young Tommy Morris had won four Opens in a row but the only player to claim three-in-a row since Ferguson remains Peter Thomson in 1954-56. As the previous year when he secured his second title, Ferguson won by three strokes.

His form had been patchy just prior to The Open but the double defending Champion produced his best form when it mattered. He went out in 40 and posted an 83 which was three strokes better than anyone else managed on either round. Jack Kirkaldy and Fitz Boothby, an amateur, were his nearest challengers with Anderson a stroke further back.

Ferguson’s form around the Loop at the far end of the Old Course was particularly fine. His only 5 came at the 12th in the second round. Though finishing with two 6s, an 88 gave him a total of 171, while Willie Fernie closed with an 86, the best score of the afternoon, for finish second, three strokes behind.

Anderson finished a further stroke behind alongside Kirkaldy, Boothby and Bob Martin, who won the 1876 Open at St Andrews and would win again when it returned to the Old Course in 1885.

Unlike Anderson who did not play in 1880, Ferguson came close to winning a fourth successive title and matching Young Tommy Morris a year later at Musselburgh but lost a play-off to Fernie.

Shortly afterwards Ferguson suffered an attack of typhoid, which prevented him from playing regularly again.