1914 U.S. Open (golf)
The 1914 U.S. Open was the 20th U.S. Open, held August 20–21 at Midlothian Country Club in Midlothian, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago. 21-year-old Walter Hagen held off amateur Chick Evans by a single stroke to win the first of his two U.S. Open titles. It was the first of Hagen's eleven major championships.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 20–21, 1914 |
| Location | Midlothian, Illinois |
| Course(s) | Midlothian Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Format | Stroke play − 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,421 yards (5,871 m) |
| Field | 66 players |
| Winner's share | $300 |
| Champion | |
| Walter Hagen | |
| 290 (+2) | |
Hagen opened with a U.S. Open record 68, a stroke ahead of defending champion Francis Ouimet. He led Tom McNamara by a shot after 36 holes, then took a two-stroke lead over McNamara into the final round, with Ouimet three back. McNamara and Ouimet, however, fell back with rounds of 83 and 78, respectively. That left the hard-charging Evans as the last player capable of catching Hagen. Evans needed a two on the 18th to tie, but his chip from the edge of the green came up just short. Hagen birdied the 18th for the fourth consecutive round, a feat unmatched by any U.S. Open champion before or since, and prevailed by one over Evans. Evans' 141 over the final 36 holes set a new U.S. Open record, but it was broken just two years later.
Two-time champion John McDermott, age 22, tied for ninth in his sixth and final U.S. Open appearance.