| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 13–15, 1923 |
| Location | Inwood, New York |
| Course(s) | Inwood Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Format | Stroke play − 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,632 yards (6,064 m)[1] |
| Field | 77[1] |
| Cut | none |
| Winner's share | ($500) |
| Champion | |
 Bobby Jones (a) | |
| 296 (+8), playoff | |
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The 1923 U.S. Open was the 27th U.S. Open, held July 13–15 at Inwood Country Club in Inwood, New York, a suburb east of New York City on Long Island. Amateur golf legend Bobby Jones, age 21, captured his first career major championship, defeating Bobby Cruickshank by two strokes in an 18-hole Sunday playoff.
Qualifying directly preceded the tournament proper,[2] which was held on Friday and Saturday, 36 holes per day, with no cut.
Jones held a three-stroke lead through 54 holes, but struggled throughout the final round on Saturday afternoon. He bogeyed the first, hit his tee shot out of bounds at the par-3 seventh for a double bogey, hit his second shot on 16 into the parking lot, and then added another bogey at 17. Still with the lead heading to the 18th, Jones made a double-bogey for a round of 76 (+4) and 296 (+8) total. Cruickshank, playing behind Jones, made double bogey at 16 and had to birdie the last to tie Jones; he hit his approach shot to five feet (1.5 m) and made the putt.[3][4]
During the 18-hole playoff on Sunday, Jones and Cruickshank only halved three of the first 17 holes, but they were all square heading to the 18th. After both players drove into the rough, Cruickshank elected to lay up short of the green, but Jones went for it and hit a 2-iron to 8 feet (2.4 m). After Cruickshank put his third shot into a bunker and fourth to 15 feet (4.6 m), Jones two-putted for the championship.[5][6]
This was the first of Jones' four U.S. Open titles, a record shared with three others: Willie Anderson, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. It was also the first of four playoffs Jones was involved in, winning twice.
- ^ a b "Jock Hutchinson's 142 sets record to top Inwood field". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. July 14, 1923. p. 8.
- ^ "Guilford falls, star pros waver in National Open". Chicago Daily Tribune. July 13, 1923. p. 13.
- ^ "Cruickshank ties Jones at Inwood". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 15, 1923. p. 4-part 2.
- ^ Fullerton, Hugh (July 15, 1923). "Cruickshank and Jones tie for golf title". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ "Robert Jones won title in play-off". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. July 16, 1923. p. 13.
- ^ Fullerton, Hugh (July 16, 1923). "Bobby Jones wins golf title on last hole". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1.