1922 U.S. Open (golf)

1922 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJuly 14–15, 1922
LocationGlencoe, Illinois
Course(s)Skokie Country Club
Organized byUSGA
FormatStroke play − 72 holes
Statistics
Par70
Length6,548 yards (5,987 m)[1]
Field78
Cutnone
Prize fund$1,725
Winner's share$500
Champion
United States Gene Sarazen
288 (+8)
← 1921
1923 →
Skokie CC  is located in the United States
Skokie CC 
Skokie CC 
Skokie CC is located in Illinois
Skokie CC
Skokie CC

The 1922 U.S. Open was the 26th U.S. Open, held July 14–15 at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. Gene Sarazen won the first of his seven major championships, one stroke ahead of runners-up John Black and 20-year-old amateur Bobby Jones.[2][3]

Walter Hagen, the winner of the British Open three weeks earlier, opened with 68 to take a three-shot lead over Black on Friday morning. In the second round that afternoon, Black shot a 71 to take a two-stroke lead over Bill Mehlhorn, with Hagen and Sarazen another stroke back.[1][4]

Jones had an even-par 70 in the third round to take a share of the 54-hole lead with Mehlhorn, while Black's 75 left him one behind. The leaders could not contend with Sarazen's brilliant play in the final round, recording a two-putt birdie on the finishing hole for a 68 and 288 total. Black needed to par the final two holes to force a playoff, but his tee shot on 17 went out of bounds and led to a double bogey. Needing an eagle on the par-5 18th to tie, Black's second shot landed ten feet (3 m) from the pin, but in a greenside bunker. When he failed to hole out from the sand, Sarazen clinched the title.[2][3]

Sarazen, age 20, became the fourth American-born champion of the U.S. Open, joining John McDermott, Francis Ouimet, and Hagen. He won a second U.S. Open ten years later in 1932.

  1. ^ a b Fullerton, Hugh (July 15, 1922). "Black leads, Mehlhorn 2d, in title golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1.
  2. ^ a b Fullerton, Hugh (July 16, 1922). "Sarazen wins thrilling golf finish". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b "Sarazen, lad of 21, wins golf tourney". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. July 16, 1922. p. 7.
  4. ^ "John Black leads first half at Skokie course". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). July 15, 1922. p. 14.