17th Open

17th Open

Musselburgh Links 1877

Anderson gains his first of a hat-trick of Open wins

Jamie Anderson won the 1877 Open at Musselburgh Links to start a run of three successive victories, immediately followed by three wins in a row for Bob Ferguson. Anderson, from St Andrews, and Ferguson, from Musselburgh, were the best players in the era that followed on from that of Willie Park and the two Tom Morrises.

This was the second Open at Musselburgh Links. Ferguson and Strath were paired together and took much of the gallery. The year before at St Andrews, Strath had tied with Bob Martin but with the possibility of a disqualification for a possible infringement, he had refused to contest the play-off in protest at the ruling being deferred until later.

This year Strath struggled early on, posting 45 for the first nine and although he rallied with a 40 for the second nine, he eventually finished in a tie for fifth place. Ferguson led the way on 80 for the first 18 holes alongside Cosgrove and William Brown.

Anderson was two strokes behind at the halfway stage but produced his best scoring in the third round with a 37 and closed with a 41 for a total of 160. Ferguson took 84 for the second 18 so dropped to third place, alongside Cosgrove, and Bob Pringle took second place after a second 18 of 80. Anderson was the winner by two strokes.