1863 / Prestwick

Willie Park Snr was back to his best in winning the 1863 Open at Prestwick and in the process denied Old Tom Morris the chance to win the Challenge Belt outright with a third successive victory.

Park, who also won the inaugural Open in 1860, had not only been runner-up to Morris in the last two Opens, but he had lost by a record margin of 13 strokes in 1862 and then been defeated by 17 holes in an eight-round head-to-head challenge during the winter.

In rain and strong winds, a new player stole the limelight with David Park, brother of Willie, scoring an opening 55 on the 12-hole course to lead Willie Park and Morris by one.

David Park slipped back with a 63 in the second round and despite having the best final round with a 54, he finished in third place.

The winner of the Belt would be one of two familiar figures. Willie Park stole a march when he posted a 54 in the second round to Morris’s 58, and although Old Tom got two shots back in the third round, Park’s 58 for a 36-hole total of 168 was good enough for a two-stroke victory.

Each of the great Champions had now won the title twice. The field comprised 14 players and for the first time there was a purse of £10 which was shared equalled among the eight professionals.

Park was more concerned with being able to take the Belt back to his workshop in Musselburgh for the first time in three years.