1887 / Prestwick

Willie Park Jnr won the 1887 Open at Prestwick to become the second son of a Champion to claim the title.

Willie Park Snr won four Opens, including the very first in 1860, and the Parks and the Morrises remain the only father and son combinations of Open Champions. Park managed the feat of never going in a bunker over the 36 holes.

Ironically, the man who looked likely to win quite comfortably came to grief in sand at the 16th hole in the final round.Willie Campbell, from Musselburgh, had taken over as the Prestwick professional that year.

He was one of the favourites and took a larger gallery as he set a new course record of 77 in the first round to lead by four strokes from Archie Simpson and double Champion Bob Martin. Park was a further stroke behind after an 82.

In the afternoon round, Campbell appeared to be heading for victory until he topped his drive at the 16th into a fairway bunker. He took four shots to escape and henceforth the bunker was known as “Willie Campbell’s Grave”.

Campbell slumped to an 87, 10 strokes worse than his first round and finished three strokes behind in third place.

He never did win The Open. Campbell’s demise should not overshadow the golf played by Park, who did not have a 6 on his card during his second round of 79.

At the 16th, in contrast to the local man, he played the hole serenely for a 3 and, as it turned out, he could afford two 5s at the last two holes.

With a total of 161 he had a stroke to spare over Martin, who had two rounds of 81. Martin had won his second Open in 1885 but not defended the title the previous year.