| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1–3 July 1959 |
| Location | Gullane, Scotland |
| Course(s) | Muirfield |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72[1] |
| Length | 6,806 yards (6,223 m)[2] |
| Field | 90 players, 48 after cut[3] |
| Cut | 148 (+4) |
| Prize fund | £5,000 $14,000 |
| Winner's share | £1,000 $2,800 |
| Champion | |
 Gary Player | |
| 284 (−4) | |
The 1959 Open Championship was the 88th Open Championship, held 1–3 July at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Gary Player, age 23, shot a final round of 68 to win the first of his nine major titles, two strokes ahead of runners-up Fred Bullock and Flory Van Donck.[4][5] It was the first of Player's three Claret Jugs; he won again in 1968 and 1974.
Muirfield was originally scheduled to host in 1957, but it was transferred to St. Andrews because of petrol rationing following the "Suez Crisis" in late 1956. Muirfield was subsequently allocated the 1959 Championship.
Qualifying took place on 29–30 June, with 18 holes at Muirfield and 18 holes at the number 1 course of Gullane Golf Club.[6] There were no exemptions and the number of qualifiers was limited to a maximum of 100, and ties did not qualify. The qualifying score was 147 and 90 players advanced to the first round the next day; defending champion Peter Thomson led with 137 and won the £50 qualifying prize.[7][8] The maximum number of players making the cut after 36 holes was again set at 50, and ties did not make the cut.
The purse was increased to £5,000, up 150 from 4,850 in 1958; the winner's share remained unchanged at £1,000, but the prizes for second to fifth places were increased. Second place received £700, with 525 for third, 400 for fourth, and 325 for fifth.[9][10]
Only four Americans were in the field of 90 (Willie Goggin, Bob Sweeny, Bob Watson, and John Garrett) and none made the cut. Sweeny and Garrett were amateurs.[3][11]
- ^ "Two unknowns (68s) top British Open". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. 2 July 1959. p. 5, part 2.
- ^ "The lay-out of the Muirfield course". Glasgow Herald. 29 June 1959. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 77. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (4 July 1959). "Open Championship for G.J. Player". Glasgow Herald. Scotland. p. 1.
- ^ Longhurst, Henry (13 July 1959). "South Africans at Muirfield". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (29 June 1959). "Open Championship starts today". Glasgow Herald. Scotland. p. 1.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (1 July 1959). "Holder leads 90 qualifiers for Open title". Glasgow Herald. Scotland. p. 9.
- ^ "Thomson head Open golf qualifiers - Proud day for amateur players". The Times. London. 1 July 1959. p. 5.
- ^ "Centenary Open Championship: prize money increased". Glasgow Herald. Scotland. 4 December 1959. p. 12.
- ^ "Golf - Centenary Open Championship - Prize money increased". The Times. London. 4 December 1959. p. 12.
- ^ "Four Americans Fail In British Open Golf". Plainfield Courier-News. New Jersey. Associated Press. 3 July 1959. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.