1937 Open Championship

The 1937 Open Championship was a golf tournament played at Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Scotland. It was the 72nd Open Championship. Henry Cotton won his second Open Championship title, prevailing by two strokes over a tough field that included many American stars.

The Ryder Cup was held just prior to the Open Championship and the members of the victorious American team decided to stay for the tournament, creating a star-studded field. An American, Ed Dudley, took the first round lead with a 70. Reg Whitcombe moved into the lead after the second round, with his brother Charles and Dudley two back. At this point, Henry Cotton was in 6th place, five shots back. The final two rounds were played in a steady, cold rain. Whitcombe maintained his lead with a third-round score of 74, two shots ahead of his brother, while Cotton moved up to three behind. The weather proved to be Whitcombe's downfall in the final round. On the 7th tee, his club slipped out of his hands as he was swinging and the ball traveled only 40 yards. He ended up taking a 6 on the hole and finished with a 76 and 292 total. Cotton did not seem affected by the conditions and arrived at the 18th needing only a 6 to win. His approach shot found a greenside bunker, but he was able to get down in 5 to post a 290 total. Only Charles Whitcombe could catch Cotton, but he could manage no better than a 76 and finished four strokes behind.

The American contingent that played the tournament included Byron Nelson and Sam Snead, both of whom were making their Open Championship debuts. Nelson would play the Open just once more, not coming back until 1955. Snead would only play four more Opens, but he would win the championship in 1946. The American Ryder Cup captain, four-time Open champion Walter Hagen, finished in 26th place in his final Open appearance.