1938 Open Championship

The 1938 Open Championship was the 73rd Open Championship, held 6–8 July at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. In terrible weather conditions that caused scores to soar, Reg Whitcombe prevailed by two strokes over runner-up Jimmy Adams to win his only major title.[3][4] The purse was £500 with a winner's share of £100.[2]

1938 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates6–8 July 1938
LocationSandwich, England
Course(s)Royal St George's Golf Club
Statistics
Par70[1]
Field120 players, 37 after cut[2]
Cut148 (+8)
Prize fund£500
Winner's share£100
Champion
England Reg Whitcombe
295 (+15)
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Sandwich  is located in England
Sandwich 
Sandwich 
Sandwich is located in Kent
Sandwich
Sandwich
Location in Kent. England

It was planned to play the Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in nearby Deal, but abnormally high tides that February caused severe flooding to the course, leaving it like "an inland sea several feet deep."[5] The venue was switched to Royal St George's, and Prince's replaced Royal Cinque Ports as the venue for one of the qualifying rounds.[6]

Qualifying took place on 4–5 July, Monday and Tuesday, with 18 holes at St. George's and 18 holes at Prince's.[7] The number of qualifiers was reduced this year to a maximum of 130, and ties for 130th place did not qualify.[6] John Fallon led the qualifiers on 142; the qualifying score was 157 and 120 players advanced,[8] with none from the United States.[2]

Dick Burton, Jack Busson, and Bill Cox shared the 36-hole lead at even par 140, with Whitcombe two strokes back after consecutive rounds of 71.[1] A maximum of 40 players after 36 holes made the cut to play on the final day, and ties for 40th place did not make the cut. It was at 148 (+8) and 37 advanced.[9]

In the last two rounds on Friday, the weather turned from challenging to treacherous. Gale force winds ripped apart the large exhibition tent and scattered debris for a mile around. Alf Padgham drove the green on the 384-yard (351 m) 11th hole, while Cyril Tolley cleared the water on the 14th only to have the wind blow his ball back into the hazard. Only seven sub-80 scores were recorded in the final round. The leaders suffered terribly in the conditions: Burton finished 78-85, Busson shot 83-80, while Cox went 84-80. Whitcombe's scores of 75-78 were enough to post a 295 total, two ahead of Adams and three clear of defending champion Henry Cotton.

Round summaries

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First round

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Wednesday, 6 July 1938

Place Player Score To par
T1   Jimmy Adams 70 E
  Jimmy Bruen (a)
  Bill Cox
  Marcel Dallemagne
  John Fallon
  Ernest Whitcombe
T7   Dick Burton 71 +1
  Jack Busson
  Bert Gadd
  Ted Jarman
  Alf Perry
  Charles Whitcombe
  Reg Whitcombe

Source:[10]

Second round

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Thursday, 7 July 1938

Place Player Score To par
T1   Dick Burton 71-69=140 E
  Jack Busson 71-69=140
  Bill Cox 70-70=140
T4   Jimmy Adams 70-71=141 +1
  Bert Gadd 71-70=141
6   Reg Whitcombe 71-71=142 +2
7   Bob French 72-71=143 +3
T8   Jimmy Black 72-72=144 +4
  Marcel Dallemagne 70-74=144
T10   Allan Dailey 73-72=145 +5
  John Fallon 70-75=145
  Bobby Locke 73-72=145
  Alf Perry 71-74=145
  Dai Rees 73-72=145
  Cyril Tolley (a) 77-68=145

Source:[9]

Third round

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Friday, 8 July 1938 (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1   Reg Whitcombe 71-71-75=217 +7
2   Dick Burton 71-69-78=218 +8
3   Jimmy Adams 70-71-78=219 +9
4   Alf Padgham 74-72-75=221 +11
5   Alf Perry 71-74-77=222 +12
6   Jack Busson 71-69-83=223 +13
T7   Fred Bullock 73-74-77=224 +14
  Henry Cotton 74-73-77=224
  Bill Cox 70-70-84=224
  Dai Rees 73-72-79=224

Source:[2][4]

Final round

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Friday, 8 July 1938 (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1   Reg Whitcombe 71-71-75-78=295 +15 100
2   Jimmy Adams 70-71-78-78=297 +17 75
3   Henry Cotton 74-73-77-74=298 +18 50
T4   Dick Burton 71-69-78-85=303 +23 23
15s
  Jack Busson 71-69-83-80=303
  Allan Dailey 73-72-80-78=303
  Alf Padgham 74-72-75-82=303
T8   Fred Bullock 73-74-77-80=304 +24 15
  Bill Cox 70-70-84-80=304
T10   Bert Gadd 71-70-84-80=305 +25 10
  Bobby Locke 73-72-81-79=305
  Charles Whitcombe 71-75-79-80=305

Source:[2][4]

Amateurs: Storey (+36), Tolley (+37), Thomson (+39), Pennink (+42).

References

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  1. ^ a b "Archer leads qualifiers in Amateur golf – 3 share British Open Lead". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. 8 July 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. p. 95. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Reginald Whitcombe win British Open crown". Miami News. Associated Press. 8 July 1938. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Reggie Whitcombe scores 295 to win". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. 9 July 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Gales and snow – Damage on east coast – Widespread flooding". The Times. 14 February 1938. p. 12.
  6. ^ a b "Golf – The Open and Amateur Championships – New Conditions". The Times. 12 February 1938. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Assault on Cotton's title". Glasgow Herald. 5 July 1938. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Decks cleared for action". Glasgow Herald. 6 July 1938. p. 6.
  9. ^ a b "Golfers' changing fortunes". Glasgow Herald. 8 July 1938. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Fascinating day's golf". Glasgow Herald. 7 July 1938. p. 2.
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