Undoubtedly, the game and sport of Golf is an import from the British Islands.
Conceived, developed, and propagated on the wind-swept Linksland of the Scottish coast, it slowly migrated to the eastern seaboard of the American mainland, where it indifferently spread amongst the blossoming and burgeoning middle class created by the industrial revolution of the late eighteenth century.
In the early days, Golf in America was a sport for the rich and a game for social elites. Means and access determined who partook and participated in this novel and avant-garde endeavor.
As the game increased in popularity and its influence spread, encompassing more courses and participants, the United States Golf Association was founded to standardize the developing rules and conduct organized competitions, including the United States Open and Amateur Championships.
The Association was founded in 1894 with five initial members: The Newport Country Club, Saint Andrews Golf Club, Yonkers, New York, The Chicago Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and the Country Club of Brookline, Massachusetts.
In 1913, the U.S. Open was held at the Country Club in Brookline to highlight the top Professionals Golfers of the time, including two of Britain’s Open Champions, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.
In what was characterized as “The Greatest Game ever played” and “The most significant championship in American Golf History.” A 20-year-old hometown amateur, Francis Ouimet, defeated the most accomplished professional golfers in the world and captured the most important prize in American Golf, thereby instigating an unprecedented boom in Golf’s popularity as an estimated 2 million Americans took up the game after Ouimet’s unexpected and unforeseen victory.
A diversion previously considered a game of the wealthy and privileged social elites overnight became a working-class athletic activity that millions of average Americans recognized and could now play and enjoy.
This singular event in the nascent American Golf scene instantly transformed a decidedly regional sport dominated by Scottish Golf Professionals into America’s most widely participated sport.
As one of American Golf’s most historic courses and a charter member of the USGA, Brookline Country Club has hosted 16 USGA Championships, two Walker Cups, the 1999 Ryder Cup, won by the United States, and 10 Massachuites State Amateurs. Only Merion has hosted more USGA Events.
But the Country Club, as Brookline is commonly known in major Golf circles, hosting its fourth U.S. Open and first since 1988, produced new dramatics at the 122nd Open held this past week.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, the 2022 Champion, held off Scottie Scheffler, reigning Master’s Champion and No one player in the world, and Will Zalatoris, who finished second, his third runner-up finish in the last seven majors.
It was the fourth straight year for a first-time champion at the Open. However, Fitzpatrick had a homecourt advantage, having won the U.S. Amateur at Brookline in 2013, making him only the second golfer to win a U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open on the same course joining Jack Nicklaus. The latter accomplished the feat at Pebble Beach.
Fitzpatrick moves to No. 10 in the world, a career-high, and becomes the third major champion from England in the last decade, joining Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open) and Danny Willett (2016 Masters) while earning $3.15 million, the largest purse in U.S. Open history.
Brookline Country Club, a founding member of the United States Golf Association, is a historic place steeped in golfing lore and now adds more history, where a former amateur wins the biggest prize in Golf and adds to the folklore of this celebrated venue.
I had a chance to record Matthew’s championship interview after the completion of the play.
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