| 1910 U.S. Open | |
Brothers Alex and Macdonald Smith faced off in an 18-hole playoff, joined by 18-year-old Johnny McDermott, at the 1910 U.S. Open. When the playoff was over, Alex was the winner.
The Smith brothers were Scotsmen working as club professionals in America. Another brother, Willie Smith, was the 1899 U.S. Open winner. Alex had previously won the 1906 U.S. Open. Macdonald would go on to win the most events that are now recognized as PGA Tour victories - 24 - but he never won the U.S. or British opens.
McDermott was the third-round leader by two, but Macdonald Smith - who started the final round four off the lead - caught him with a 71. Alex Smith was the last of the three to finish, and he had a putt of less than two feet for birdie and outright victory on the 72nd hole. But Alex missed.
So the three played another 18 the following day, with Alex shooting 71 to win (McDermott carded 75 and Macdonald Smith 77). McDermott went on to win the 1911 and 1912 U.S. Opens.
According to the USGA, host club Philadelphia Cricket Club was the first U.S. Open host to give the professionals access to the clubhouse and lockerroom. Most clubs of this era prohibited pro golfers from entering those areas.
Famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast tied for 25th playing as an amateur.
Four-time U.S. Open winner Willie Anderson finished 11th in his final appearance. He died a few months later at age 31, officially of epilepsy, but Anderson was a heavy drinker whose alcoholism probably played a role in his death.
1910 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores
Results from the 1910 U.S. Open golf tournament played at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (x-won playoff; a-amateur):
| x-Alex Smith | 73-73-79-73--298 | $300 |
| John McDermott | 74-74-75-75--298 | $150 |
| Macdonald Smith | 74-78-75-71--298 | $100 |
| Fred McLeod | 78-70-78-73--299 | $80 |
| Tom McNamara | 73-78-73-76--300 | $65 |
| Gilbert Nicholls | 73-75-77-75--300 | $65 |
| Jack Hobens | 74-77-74-76--301 | $50 |
| Tom Anderson Jr. | 72-76-81-73--302 | $30 |
| Herbert Barker | 75-78-77-72--302 | $30 |
| Jock Hutchison | 77-76-75-74--302 | $30 |
| Willie Anderson | 74-78-76-75--303 | |
| George Low | 75-77-79-74--305 | |
| Charles Thom | 80-72-78-75--305 | |
| Tom Bonnar | 78-78-71-80--307 | |
| George Cummings | 78-73-79-77--307 | |
| Alex Campbell | 79-76-80-74--309 | |
| George Sargent | 77-81-74-77--309 | |
| Jack Campbell | 77-77-81-75--310 | |
| James Thomson | 74-80-80-76--310 | |
| a-Fred Herreshoff | 76-77-79-79--311 | |
| George Smith | 76-78-79-80--313 | |
| Alex Ross | 78-84-73-79--314 | |
| Otto Hackbarth | 79-82-78-76--315 | |
| Martin Oloughlin | 77-82-80-76--315 | |
| a-A.W. Tillinghast | 80-81-79-76--316 | |
| William Robinson | 83-81-78-75--317 | |
| Jack Burke Sr. | 81-77-77-84--319 | |
| James Donaldson | 80-78-87-75--320 | |
| David Honeyman | 83-79-79-79--320 | |
| Irving Stringer | 83-77-82-78--320 | |
| Jack Croke | 77-78-83-83--321 | |
| Alfred Campbell | 78-84-81-79--322 | |
| Walter Fovargue | 79-86-75-82--322 | |
| Peter Robertson | 79-81-80-82--322 | |
| Orrin Terry | 82-84-79-77--322 | |
| Isaac Mackie | 81-82-80-80--323 | |
| Sam White | 82-79-82-80--323 | |
| Willie Maguire | 76-83-81-84--324 | |
| Frank Peebles | 80-85-77-82--324 | |
| Robert Peebles | 83-81-80-80--324 | |
| Jack Jolly | 83-80-82-80--325 | |
| George Griffin | 81-81-85-79--326 | |
| Robert Mcwatt | 83-79-82-82--326 | |
| Joe Mitchell | 78-82-83-84--327 | |
| Karl Keffer | 84-79-87-79--329 | |
| James Campbell | 86-78-80-86--330 | |
| a-Robert Watson | 86-76-86-83--331 | |
| a-Charles Burgess | 81-83-88-81--333 | |
| William F. Hackney | 78-85-88-84--335 |
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