1892 Open Championship
| Dates | 22–23 September 1892 |
|---|---|
| Location | Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
| Course(s) | Muirfield |
| Field | 60 players |
| Cut | none |
| Prize fund | £110 |
| Winner's share | £35 |
 Harold Hilton (a) |
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| 305 | |
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The 1892 Open Championship was the 32nd Open Championship, held 22–23 September at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Harold Hilton, an amateur, won the Championship by three strokes from another amateur John Ball and two professionals: Sandy Herd and Hugh Kirkaldy. This was the second win by an amateur following Ball's victory in 1890.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers had previously hosted the Open six times on the public nine-hole Musselburgh Links before building the private 18-hole course at Muirfield. The Muirfield course had only been completed nine months before the Championship. The 1892 Open was the first to be contested over 72 holes and the first to take place on two days. 36 holes were played each day. As in previous years the order of play was determined by a draw but it was decided that a different draw would be used on the two days.
After the announcement that the Open would move from Musselburgh to Muirfield, a number of local golfers protested about the change of venue. When the Honourable Company refused to change the venue back to Musselburgh, these members determined to run their own "open" competition on the same days as the official event. By offering much higher prize money, they hoped to induce the leading professionals to play in their "open". This, however, resulted in a large increase in the prize money for the official event from £30 in 1891 to over £100. Realising that the leading players would play in the official Open, the Musselburgh Open Tournament was moved to an earlier date (14 and 15 September) so that the professionals could compete in both events.
Herd was one of the early starters on the first day and his 77 gave him an early lead. He was later passed by John Ball, who scored 75, and by Horace Hutchinson with a 74. Hutchinson had a 78 in the afternoon to lead on 152, three ahead of Ball, Herd and Willie Park, Jr.
Ball was one of the early starters on the second day and, finishing with seven successive fours, had a 74 and a total of 229. Herd had a 77 to lie three behind Ball. Hutchinson started badly with a six at the 1st and eventually finished with an 86 and a total of 238, nine behind Ball. The highlight of the morning was Hilton's round of 72. He started with a two and followed with six fours and an outward nine of 35. Coming home in 37 his total of 231 put him in second place, only two behind Ball. Kirkaldy lay fourth on 233.
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