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THE TRUE STORY

Twenty years old, a former caddie, relatively unknown but supremely talented, Francis Ouimet became America ’s first golf hero. In a sport dominated by the British and the wealthy, Ouimet showed the character and the skill to challenge the greatest names in the sport at the time, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at the 1913 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline Massachusetts.

 
The Great Harry Vardon

Seen as a turning point in the history of the sport in America, the self taught Ouimet, toppled the British powerhouse in a playoff victory forever changing the sport and the dreams of kids from any walk of life who thought they may have what it takes to win one of the most coveted titles in world sport.  

The Open was played at The Country Club in 1913. The oldest golf course in the United States provided a picturesque setting for the championship. Vardon and Ray, both British and both considered to be exceptionally talented golfers, were expected to walk over the less experienced field and, while much had been prophesized about Ouimet, his inexperience seemed too great to overcome.  

The match was close and the course proved challenging to both Vardon and Ray who each posted final rounds of 79 and who, as a result, seemed destined to be caught by Ouimet…and of course they were. The playoff was considered to be one of the most exciting rounds of golf ever played.  

Ouimet played exquisitely in the playoff, the course was soaked and muddy from a weeks worth of bad weather, but he managed a 72 whilst Vardon and ray posted a 77 and 78 respectively. Vardon, one of Ouimets childhood heroes, was unable to hoist the Open cup above his head and claim victory for England . Instead, that honor went to the young amateur who used phone books to practice accuracy and had never before been allowed to walk the halls of golf clubs as an equal, let alone a celebrated hero of Americas sporting elite.