This week the eyes of golfing fans are on the 123rd US Open Championship, just as they were on the 27th edition at Inwood in New York 100 years ago, when Bobby Cruickshank narrowly missed adding his name to a list of Scottish previous winners.
The “Wee Scot”, who was born in Grantown-on-Spey, a small town located about three hours north-east of Edinburgh, lost the match when Jones won the first major after a mishit drive on the final hole of the play-off.
It is difficult to believe that no Scots will be featured this week, given the event’s long history. In the early days, they dominated. Between 1901 and 1910, a Scot won every year except one. But in 1923 Lady Fortune did not smile on Bobby. In 1932 he was again second to Gene Sarazen, another legend. Cruickshank had five top-four finishes in total, but he never won.
Cruickshank, like many other aspiring Scottish golfers, went to America in 1921 with high hopes, but also uncertain expectations. In a little over a year, Cruickshank had already made his mark. He won three tournaments, reached the semifinals of the PGA Championship and lost to Sarazen.
The American Open hopes in 1923 were placed firmly on charismatic amateur Bobby Jones. In the previous years, Jones had finished second and fifth. Jones had a comfortable lead at Inwood with three holes left. Cruickshank was close behind, but Jones finished poorly, making two bogeys, and even a double-bogey. He commented as he walked off the 18th hole, “I ended like a yellow doggy.”
Live Leaderboard: U.S. Open schedules, pairings, and more
The Wee Scot, on the other hand, was facing his own difficulties as a double-bogey at 16th hole required both a birdie and par finish in order to tie Jones. He needed to birdie the 425 yard 18th after parring the 17th. It was said that Jones would win. Officials were confident enough to ask him to prepare for a trophy ceremony. But he wisely declined and said he would not do so until the final putt had been sunk.
Bobby Cruickshank puts during the Masters in Augusta, Georgia while his daughter Elsie watches. Bobby Jones, also known as “Wee Scot,” had the best chance of winning a major at the 1923 U.S. Open.
Cruickshank’s drive landed in the middle of the course, about 180 yards from the green. The pressure was now increasing. He was unfazed and struck a beautiful shot with his “mid-iron”, as it was called at the time, into the heart of green, where it rolled down to a stop 6 feet from the pin. The crowd roared in approval as he calmly executed a pressure putt that would end all other pressure puts. Later, Jones described it as one of the best golf holes ever played.
In the 18-hole play off the following day, in front of 8,00 Jones supporters, both players reached the final tee in a tight contest. Cruickshank’s drive was hooked, and Jones’ tee-shot sailed into the rough. The American was bold, striking a great iron close to pin, while the Scotsman could only bunker the approach shot.
Cruickshank said, “Bobby Jones was the best of all.” It was a great shot! “I’m so proud of having stepped this close to him.”
Sarazen famously played the last 28 golf holes in just 100 strokes. The Wee Scot also enjoyed many other tournament successes in the States, including winning the most money in 1927. In 1932 he came close to winning the Open when his final rounds of 68-69 on the same date were not enough to defeat him. The Wee Scot went on to achieve other top-four finishes, including a fourth place at the 1936 Masters. This was the highest finish a Scot achieved until Sandy Lyle won in 1988.
Cruickshanks, who grew up in Grantown in modest circumstances and was called “Boback”, began his involvement in golf by serving as a caddy in the summer for wealthy visitors along with his brother John. Isabella Usher, a widow from Edinburgh, was one of those visitors. She became fond of both brothers and took them in to live at Murrayfield where they received an education at Daniel Stewart’s College (now Stewart’s Melville). Bobby was a star athlete at Daniel Stewart’s College, winning Scottish Schoolboy titles in 100 yards, long-jump, and cricket ball throwing. He set numerous records, and won many Scottish Schoolboy titles.
He represented the school in golf, and at the age of 16 he set a Junior Record of 76 over the Braid Hill course. Tommy Armour was the future triple-major winner. Cruickshank’s service in The Somme and Passchendaele interrupted his golfing dreams.
A shell killed John Armour, who was in the trench with him at Ypres. Bobby was in a POW Camp with Sandy Armour, Tommy Armour’s older brother and a great golfer. He helped restore Sandy Armour’s health.
Bobby was a member of Turnhouse and won the Edinburgh Coronation Cup two times. He also reached the semi-finals of the French Amateur.
He was encouraged by Armour, Willie Park Jr. and went to America, where the rest, as they say is history.
His induction into the PGA Hall of Fame, in 1967, was his final accolade. His place in golf is secure, even though he hasn’t won any major titles.
