Dates | 9–11 May 1928 |
---|---|
Location | Sandwich, England |
Course(s) | Royal St George's Golf Club |
Field | 113 players, 52 after cut |
Cut | 159 |
Prize fund | £250 |
Winner's share | £75 |
Walter Hagen | |
292 | |
«1927
1929»
|
The 1928 Open Championship was the 63rd Open Championship, held 9–11 May at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Walter Hagen won the third of his four Open Championship titles, two strokes ahead of runner-up Gene Sarazen. Defending champion Hagen again prevailed at Royal St George's, site of his first Open win in 1922. It was the tenth of his eleven major titles. His second Open victory came in 1924 at Royal Liverpool.
For this year and again in 1929, the Open was played earlier than usual, in early May: Hagen won both. Qualifying took place on 7–8 May. Entries played 18 holes at St George's and 18 holes at Prince's. The top 100 and ties qualified. The qualifying score was 162 and 113 players qualified. José Jurado led the qualifiers on 144. The qualifiers included four Bradbeer brothers, James, Bob, Ernest and Fred. To make the cut players would need to be within 14 strokes of the leader after 36 holes.
Two-time defending champion Bobby Jones decided not to make the trip across the Atlantic this year, meaning all eyes were on other American stars. Two weeks prior, Walter Hagen played a match against Archie Compston and lost badly, 18 & 17. Realizing he needed practice, Hagen resolved to skip the parties for which he had become famous and concentrate on his game.
Bill Mehlhorn led after the first day with Gene Sarazen a stroke behind. Mehlhorn had a poor 78 on the second day and José Jurado took over the lead on 145. Hagen and Sarazen were second on 148 with Mehlhorn and Archie Compston on 149. On the third morning Hagen took the lead by a stroke from Jurado and Sarazen, two ahead of Compston. Hagen's last round of 72 gave him victory by two shots from Sarazen. Jurado had a disappointing 80 and dropped into a tie for sixth place. The prizes were presented by the Prince of Wales.