Question: Who was the First Golfer to Break Par Over Four Rounds in the U.S. Open?
Answer: A year after becoming the first native-born American to win the U.S. Open, Johnny McDermott became, in 1912, the first golfer to break par in the tournament. McDermott posted rounds of 74-75-74-71 for a 294 total. At the par-74 Country Club of Buffalo (N.Y.), that was good for 2-under par.
It should be noted that the concept of par was only officially recognized in 1911, when the USGA defined it as "perfect play without flukes and under ordinary weather conditions, always allowing two strokes on each putting green."
