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IT was with Willie Park of Musselburgh
that our hero played his most memorable single matches. In 1854 there
appeared in the Scotsman a challenge from Willie Park, offering to play
Allan Robertson, Tom Morris, or Willie Dunn. Getting no reply to his
challenge, Willie turned up at the autumn meeting of the same year in St
Andrews, where he met the three men he had challenged the greatest golfers
of the day. Even then there seemed to be some reluctance to meet him, but
eventually Tom Morris agreed to play him a match of 2 rounds of the St
Andrews links, which Willie won by 5 holes. Shortly afterwards he again beat
Tom at North Berwick.
In 1856 they had their first big match over 4 greens for £100 a-side. The
links chosen were Musselburgh, Prestwick, North Berwick, and St Andrews. On
the two former greens Willie had the advantage, and Tom not so great a one
over the remaining two. Willie won by 8 and 6 to play. I subjoin this
account of the day's play at St Andrews, taken from the Fife Herald of 15th
May 1856, for the sake of the game itself and for the sake of Sir Hugh Lyon-Playfair's
opening remarks, which might be laid to heart with advantage at the present
day by those intent on witnessing golf matches.
"On Saturday at twelve o'clock Mr Morris and Mr Park met at the first hole
to resume the contest in which they have for some time been engaged. The
interest taken in the match by many of the citizens induced upwards of 500
to set apart the day as one of amusement, in viewing the progress of the
game. A large number of golfers and other gentlemen from a distance were
also present, as well as a number of ladies who stood on the terraces of the
Club-House and elsewhere, viewing the commencement of the match. Before the
first balls had been struck off, Provost Playfair stated to the crowd that
some gentlemen had recommended that a staff of policemen should have been
present to keep them back from the golfers while they played; but he thought
they were rather disagreeable fellows. Others had thought a magistrate
should have been in attendance, but he thought the best and most effectual
plan was that everyone should be; his own policeman; he appealed to their
honour to keep back from the plavers 30 or 40 yards while they were striking
their balls or putting, and thus give them every fair play. This address was
received with applause, and Tom immediately afterwards struck off his ball,
which was followed by Park's, and away the crowd moved after the players
till they had finished 2 rounds, which terminated about half-past four
o'clock.
"The following is the state in which the match stood before the competitors
commenced at St Andrews: At Musselburgh, Park gained 8 holes, at Prestwick,
5, and at North Berwick he lost 2, which left him 11 holes ahead.
"After the first round was completed on Saturday, Park had come down 3
holes. After playing 12 holes of the second round the match was completed.
Park being 8 holes ahead, and there being only 6 to play.
"As numerous bets depended on the result of the day's play at St Andrews,
without having any reference to the principal match, the round was played
out, and Tom was found to be gainer of another 2 holes, which made him 5
holes ahead.
"The following shows the state of play during the first round:
Going Out.
Morris, 5 5 5 4 6 5 6 4 5
Park. 6 5 6 5 6 4 5 4 5
Coming In.
Morri, 4 3 5 6 6 6 5 4 6
Park, 4 3 5 5 7 6 7 7 6
"Thus Tom took 90 strokes to the round, and Park took 96; 9 holes were
halved; 6 were taken by Tom. and 3 by Park.
Tom's Matches with Willie Park
"The following shows the state of play during the second round:
Going Out.
Morris, 6 6 5 5 6 4 5 4 5
Park, 5 7 5 5 7 5 6 3 5
Coming In.
Morris, 4 4 5 5 6 5 5 6 6
Park, 6 3 4 6 6 6 6 5 6
"Thus Tom took 92 strokes to this round, and Park took 95; 6 holes were
halved; 7 taken by Tom, and 5 by Park."
But in 1862 Tom had his revenge. He won on every green, defeating his
opponent by 17 holes. They did not play a great match again until 1870, this
time on Tom's challenge. Park won the toss, and elected to play over his
opponent's links first. The order was, St Andrews, Prestwick, North Berwick,
and Musselburgh. The play therefore began at St Andrews on the 12th of
April.
The links at St Andrews, says a contemporary account, presented an unusually
animated appearance, a large number of gentlemen turning out to witness the
performance of the two champions. Opinions were very varied as to the
capabilities of the two players, many persons believing that the weight of
ten years which Morris had to carry over Park gave the latter an advantage,
while others maintained that the careful, steady play of the St Andrews
representative would, at any rate on his own green, earn for him the victory
over his redoubtable opponent. I followed the match all day. The weather was
good, but a south-west wind was rather high for perfect play. The links were
in what was then considered to be first-rate order, but the putting-greens
were rather keen. "Daw" Anderson carried for Tom, Bob Fergusson for Willie
Park. Park won the first hole in 3, Tom missing a longish down-hill putt.
Tom was bunkered in the second hole, and lost it also. Park met a similar
fate at the third, and Tom won the hole. The fourth hole was halved. Park
won the fifth, Tom putting indifferently. Tom was in bunkers at the sixth,
and was now 3 down. He, however, won the high hole. The short and ninth hole
was halved. Tom won the tenth, Park the eleventh; Tom won the twelfth, Park
the thirteenth. Willie was in "Hell" in the next, and lost. He was again
bunkered at the fifteenth, and lost. Match all even and 3 to play in the
first round. Tom was bunkered at the sixteenth and lost. He also lost the
seventeenth and eighteenth. So the first round, much, I remember, to the
disappointment of Tom's friends, ended with our champion 3 holes to the bad.
Starting in the afternoon, we hoped for better things, and great was our
chagrin when Tom's second shot was in the burn. It was caught by the high
head-wind, and in it went. Tom was now 4 down. However, he won the second
and third. Park won the fourth. The fifth was halved. Here Tom holed what
looked like a dead stymie, and great was the applause when he successfully
negotiated it. They both, however, took 6 to the hole. The sixth was halved
also, Tom's ball lying on the lip of the hole with the like. Tom won the
seventh. The short hole was halved, Park holing a fine putt. The ninth was
won by Tom, who now was only one down. The tenth was halved, Tom lofting a
stymie and securing a half. The eleventh was also halved. Park won the
twelfth, and was now 2 up and 6 to play. The thirteenth was halved, and so
was the fourteenth. Tom won the fifteenth 1 down and 3 to play. He won the
next. All even and 2 to play. Going to the seventeenth, Park played a
magnificent cleek shot, and was on the green in 3. Tom also played well, but
just a little strong, and was on the road. Park won the hole and became
dormy. The last hole was halved. Park thus won the match on Tom's own green
by 1 hole, and was warmly applauded by the crowd, who however, were not in
the best of spirits over Tom's defeat.
A return match was also won by Park.
Going to Prestwick, both had some practice over the links there; and in the
afternoon of the day previous to the match being resumed, Park and Bob
Fergusson played Tom and Charlie Hunter. The latter won the first round by
1, but lost the second by 2, Willie and Bob thus winning the match by a
hole.
Next day the great match was resumed, "watched with the greatest interest by
a large number of ladies and gentlemen, whose sympathies were evidently
mostly in favour of Morris, from the fact that he was resident in Prestwick
for fourteen years. The links were in admirable playing order, with the
exception of the first and last holes, where the sand and uneven
putting-green made it difficult to hole out with anything like a good score.
The form displayed by the two players was, curiously enough, as nearly as
possible just the opposite of that shown at St Andrews on Tuesday. In the
first round there was undoubtedly some excellent play, but it was not
sustained, and the second round was characterised by the same uneven game.
As at St Andrews, the present exhibition of golfing science was reserved for
the last round. Park drove magnificently, but his putting was for a time
indifferent. Tom Morris, on the other hand, while driving very well, shone
most brilliantly on the putting-green."
The first round went in favour of Tom by 6 holes. After lunch Park played
up. "Going to the 'Tunnel' hole, where lie had so signally come to grief in
the two previous rounds, Park substituted his clock for the play club or
spoon, and sent the ball safely over Sahara. Tom followed in the same
direction, but more to the left. Park then took his long putter, and making
the finest stroke of the day, holed out in 2. For this magnificent play the
Musselburgh champion got a round of applause, and his confidence reviving,
he played a brilliant game to the close." At the burn hole he had succeeded
in reducing Tom's lead of 6 to 1, "which was, however, again increased to 2
at the home hole by the beautiful and steady putting of the old champion,
who now stood 'dormy,' i.e., 2 holes up and 2 to play. Playing to the short
hole, Park landed in the hollow at the shoulder of the 'Alps,' but 'decked'
his ball in splendid style out of the hazard. Tom's first stroke took his
ball within a yard of the hole, but he missed the putt, and Park doing the
same, Tom got the hole with his next, making him 3 up. To the last hole of
the green both drove their ball always (sic) at whistling rate. Park's next
with the iron lay within four yards of the hole, while Tom, who was further
down the hill, was short in his cleek shot, and his putt was too strong.
Park missed his putt by six inches, and Tom's next stopped short on the lip
of the hole, giving Park the chance to hole out in 4 and win the hole, which
he did. The result of the 36 holes was that Morris was 2 up at Prestwick and
on the match, a majority of 1 hole for Morris."
Mr E. II. Hunter acted as umpire, Charlie Hunter coached Tom Morris, and Bob
Fergusson advised Willie Park.
The third day's play was at North Berwick. My Record says: "As the
termination of the great match approaches, the interest in it increases, and
the excitement over the result is intensified. It was supposed that the turn
of the game depended upon the play over North Berwick links, and a very
large and enthusiastic crowd of golfers and others interested in the
national pastime assembled to witness the third section of the match. The
weather was again all that could have been desired for golfing, and the
green being in capital order, the sport was proceeded with under the most
favourable circumstances. When scores were compared at the end of the four
rounds it was found that the champions were 'all even' on the 36 holes. The
play was in some respects the finest that has ever been exhibited during the
match; both representatives displaying, at one part or another of the game,
that brilliant form which has earned for them the fame of being the best
handlers of the club of this generation. In the first round Park took a
strong lead, and driving and putting in his best style was 6 holes ahead at
the finish of the ninth hole, Morris securing only I hole in the round,
while Park got 7, and 1 was halved. The second round was very evenly
balanced, each player winning 3 holes and 3 being halved, although at one
time Park was 8 holes ahead of Morris. After luncheon, however, 'the old
'un,' with the pluck and patient endurance for which he is so eminently
characterised, began steadily to encroach on his adversary's large majority;
and by outdriving and outputting Willie he secured 5 holes in the third
round to Park's 2, the remaining 2 being halved. The Musselburgh man,
notwithstanding this, started on the final round 3 ahead of the St Andrews
representative, but getting a succession of 'soft' lying balls, he was
overhauled by his opponent at the seventh hole and headed at the next; but
Park securing the final, the game stood as at the commencement of the day's
play. In the fourth round, it may be mentioned, Morris won 5 holes, Park 2,
and 2 were halved. Morris still stands I hole up on the whole match; but it
must be remembered that the final struggle takes place over Park's own links
at Musselburgh."
On Musselburgh links, then, this great golf match was to have been fought
out to a conclusion. It was the 23rd April 1870. The weather, unfortunately,
was not favourable. Across the links a south-west wind blew in strong gusts,
accompanied often by drenching showers of rain. Notwithstanding the
unpropitious nature of the weather, it is said that between six and seven
thousand spectators assembled to witness the match. A contemporary record
says, "It is a matter for regret, however, that the onlookers behaved in the
most disgraceful manner. Very fair order was maintained during the first 2
rounds of the links; but as the crowd increased and the excitement over the
result intensified, the players were pressed in upon in a very rude manner,
and were scarcely allowed room to use their clubs freely." Mr Robert
Chambers appealed to the crowd from time to time to maintain better order,
but in vain.
But let us follow the match up to the time the referee had to interfere. In
the first round Park managed to get at one time 3 ahead, but Tom stuck to
his antagonist, and the round ended with Tom 1 up, and 2 on the big match.
Matters stood in exactly the same condition at the end of the second round,
when an interval took place for lunch. At the sixth hole of the third round
Tom was only 1 up. The hole was halved. Going to the seventh hole, Park
drove a capital ball straight to the hole, while Morris kept to the right as
in his previous round, but duffed his next. Willie's second stroke brought
him up to thirty yards from the goal. The crowd broke the line, and it was
only after great exertions on the part of a few gentlemen that the
spectators were driven back to allow Morris to play up, which he did in good
style, but fell short. Park's third stroke carried the ball ten yards beyond
the hole, within three yards of which Tom cleeked his next. Both players
missed their fourth strokes, and the hole was halved in 5. Willie drove low
and to the right for the eighth hole, while Tom's ball in a straight line
flew high. Another drive and a long putt brought them both up to the green,
and Park, following up with a magnificent putt, holed out in 4, Morris
taking 1 more. The players were now all even on the green and Morris 1 up on
the match. The crowd at this point behaved in the most disgraceful manner,
running in before the players and completely blocking up the entrance to the
last hole. Considerable delay took place before the green was, with some
difficulty, partially cleared. Park then struck off, but his ball, landing
on top of the hill, rolled back, while Tom's was carried away to the rails.
Park's second was fifteen yards short, and Morris's next was also short. Two
putts were missed by both players, and the hole was halved in 5.
Then the fourth and last round began all square on the links, Tom i up on
the match. The first hole was halved in 5. Park won the next hole, and the
great match was all square. Willie, drove over the rails on to the grass
towards the third hole, and Tom fell short on the new course beside the
rails, and in decking out of this difficulty he landed in another a sand
bunker. He, however, played a splendid cleek stroke from the hazard up to
the green, while Park's second lay in a hollow just before the
putting-green, and his third stroke being too strong, went past the hole.
Both were over in their next putt, and Tom missing a short putt, at which
the crowd set up a great cheer, Willie secured the hole in 5 making him a
hole ahead on the match."
At this stage the match was broken off. A contemporary account says: "Both
players then retired for refreshments. In a short time Park appeared at the
teeing-ground; but the St Andrews champion not putting in an appearance, the
excitement amongst the crowd became great. It was shortly ascertained that
the referee had decided that the play in the remaining 6 holes of the match
should be postponed till Saturday forenoon at eleven o'clock. Park protested
against this, the more especially as he had not been consulted, and stated
that if Morris did not come forward and finish the round he would do so by
himself and claim the stakes. Morris abided by the decision of the referee,
who stated that his reason for postponing the play was: 'That
notwithstanding all exertions, no means were practicable for keeping back
the onlookers, some of whom by their conduct rendered fair play an
impossibility.' Park maintained that the referee had power only to settle
disputes as to balls, that he could not postpone the play without the
consent of both combatants, and that the articles under which the match was
being played distinctly stated that it should be finished that day. He
therefore played the remaining 6 holes himself and sent a letter to the
stakeholder (Mr Robert Dudgeon) claiming the stakes. Mr Dudgeon," the report
goes on to say, "we understand, refused to pay over the stakes, and the
matter thus stands in this unsatisfactory position."
Meanwhile Park by himself, followed by the large crowd, played the remaining
holes. This he did in line style. His score for the last 6 holes was 44345
and 2 22. On Saturday morning at eleven o'clock, the hour appointed by Mr
Robert Chambers for playing oil the 6 holes left unplayed, Morris and a few
spectators appeared at the end hole. Park was present, but he adhered to the
view he had taken of the referee's duties, maintaining that he had played
out the match on the day fixed by the articles, viz., the 22nd of April:
That no man had any power to stop the play in the middle of the game. That,
as Morris had refused to play out the last 11 holes when called on by him,
he had done so by himself, and therefore, won the match. He accordingly
refused to play the 6 holes with Morris on Saturday morning unless a new
match were made.
Mr Chambers directed Morris to walk the course, which he did, holing the 6
holes from Mrs Forman's in 4 4 5 5 6 and 4 respectively 28 in all. At the
conclusion Morris was loudly hissed by the partisans of the Musselburgh
champion, as was the referee, who gave the following written decision in the
course of the forenoon: "As referee in the match between Morris and Park on
April 22, and in terms of my decision, the remaining 6 holes were played by
Morris this day, Park declining to finish the game, I therefore declare
Morris to be the winner. (Signed) R. Chambers, Jun., Musselburgh, April 23,
1870." The contemporary report ends: "We believe that Park has arrested the
stakes in the hands of Mr Robert Dudgeon, the stakeholder, and that it is
probable the matter will be carried to a law court for decision. Park, as
before stated, rests his case on the articles and on the fact that he was
never consulted by the referee as to the postponement of the play. The
article of the match in question is as follows: 'Musselburgh, March 8, 1870.
We, the undersigned, agree to commence to play our match at golf for 100
sterling a-side on Tuesday, the 12th day of April, and that on St Andrews
links at 12 o'clock; on Prestwick, 15th April; North Berwick, 19th April;
and on Musselburgh links, 22nd April, to play at same hour (twelve o'clock),
as at St Andrews. (Signed, Tom Morris, Willie Park.'"
It is a pity, of course, that nothing was said in the articles thus signed
about the powers of the referee. But most people, I should think, will admit
that he had the powers, reluctantly, we may be sure, assumed by Mr Robert
Chambers, jun. No better or more unbiassed referee could have been found,
either as a man of strict honour and a golfer, than the winner of the St
Andrews tournament at St Andrews, whose home green was Musselburgh, and I
hardly think Mr A. H. Doleman is warranted in thus writing of the match in
his otherwise excellent paper in Golf of August 28, 1891, on Willie Park,
sen., in the "Eminent Golfers" series: "At Mrs Forman's Tom missed a short
putt, which gave Willie the
hole and made him 2 up and 6 to play on the match. The excitement was
intense, and Park's supporters cheered lustily. Tom went in to Mrs Forman's,
as Willie thought, merely for a refreshment (did not Willie go too?), but
never returned to play. After waiting nearly half an hour Willie played out
the remaining 6 holes and claimed the match. The conduct of the referee on
this occasion was much blamed at the time, but it is useless to refer to it
now. Then I can be little doubt, had the game gone on, Willie would have won
pretty easily, seeing his score for the 6 holes was 21. Tom played the holes
out next day, taking 28."
I think we are safe in abiding by the decision of the referee, and in
thinking that the conduct of the Musselburgh crowd on this occasion
warranted his action and subsequent decision.
The combatants did not meet again in a big match until May 1882. Play began
over the Musselburgh course on Tuesday the 9th. A strong wind prevailed from
the west, and in the forenoon there were several showers of rain. The links
were in good condition, but the greens, owing to the rain, rather sluggish.
A contemporary account states that, "to prevent the possibility of a
recurrence of the dispute in 1870, several men carried a rope across the
green, and were successful for the most part in keeping the people from
pressing too closely upon the players. The number of spectators gradually
increased during the day, and while the last two rounds were in progress
between 2000 and 3000 persons were following up." Mr Gillespie, advocate,
Edinburgh, acted as referee. Tom Morris won the first round by one. This
advantage he increased to 5 up in the second round. After luncheon Park's
play much improved, lie drew all even in the third round, and Morris was
only one up at the end of it. Park, however, won the next round as well, and
the match at Musselburgh ended with one hole of an advantage for Park. They
were even in strokes, 171 each.
On Friday, the I2th, the play was at St Andrews. Park was 1 up, and "whilst
his local backers were confident of his success, the odds were against him
at St Andrews 2 to 1 being offered on Tom. The weather was excellent, but
the wind was a little breezy and ahead on the outward journey. The
putting-greens were in fine order, but water stood in several hollows, and
oftener than once it brought the players to grief." To begin with, the play
was rather in favour of Park, but Tom pulled up and reached the turn 1 up,
and all square on the match. This advantage he lost coming in, and the first
round ended where it began Park 1 up on the match. Both men were round in
92. Starting for the second round, Tom played badly and had bad luck. Going
to the Heathery hole, Park was 3 up on the round. Tom had the best of it at
the Heathery hole, having given Park a stymie, which he could not surmount.
A dispute took place here in consequence of its being alleged that Tom moved
his ball; but Major Boothby, who acted as referee, decided against the claim
for a stroke. At the turn Park was 1 up, and he retained this advantage to
the end of the round. The day's play at St Andrews ended in 1 up for Park
and two on the match. Park's round was 90, Morris's 91. My Record adds:
'From these scores those who know St Andrews links will observe that the
piny was not equal to what was anticipated. Morris was particularly
deficient in his putting, while Park played sometimes a weak quarter game."
Tom seems to have missed what was thought a dead putt on the green of the
hole Across, coming home in the second round.
On Tuesday, the 16th May, the match was resumed at Prcstwick. It was, we are
told, an ideal golfing day. Bright, warm sunshine, tempered by a slight
north-westerly breeze, gave to the few hundred spectators who assembled on
the green that maximum of comfort and enjoyment which rendered the following
up of the spectators a pleasurable undertaking. There was a sprinkling of
ladies among those who had assembled to witness the play, and they followed
the fluctuating fortunes of the game with as much zest and eager curiosity
as any of the gentlemen present who consider golfing as one of their
principal pursuits. The putting-greens were in perfect condition, quick,
elastic and true, and, indeed, all the conditions requisite for carrying on
the play with the greatest facility, enjoyment and good scoring were
present. On entering the third stage of the match, the little betting that
was indulged in was even money, although Park appeared to have the more
numerous admirers. At the end of the first round of 12 holes the game stood
as it began. By the end of the second round, however, Tom was i up on the
match, and the day's play ended with Tom 5 up at Prestwick and 3 on the
match. "Of the day's play," a spectator says, "it was generally conceded
that the forward play of both men was in the highest degree excellent, but
their quarter game and putting was very defective." J. G. D., which I take
to be the initials of the late Mr Denham, [Mr Denham left a very valuable
scrap-book containing newspaper reports of famous golf matches. His
daughter, Mrs. Huntly, was kind enough to put this at my disposal, and
indebted to her for doing so. This I refer to as "The Record".] one of the
keenest of the followers of the fortunes of the great golfers of those days,
tells us that Park played a very steady game, although occasionally getting
into unfortunate hazards, two of which compelled him to give up the hole.
Tom's long game and approaches could not be surpassed; but he was again
defective in his putting, which was such a prominent feature in his play
both at Musselburgh and St Andrews.
The concluding stage of the match was reached at North Berwick on Friday,
the 19th May. With three holes to the good the chances of success lay
largely with Morris, who on that account no doubt found most backers; but
not a few of Park's admirers were confident that the bold and fearless play
of their favourite would prove equal to the occasion, notwithstanding Tom's
well-earned reputation for staying powers. To some extent the players were
on a level so far as acquaintance with the green was concerned the recent
alterations on the course at the Shipka, which had just been opened to the
public, having been tested by both men on Wednesday and Thursday. Willie
Park's thorough knowledge of the old course, however, was reckoned by some a
point in his favour, but really there was little to draw between the
respective chances of the veterans, barring the three holes by which Tom led
at the start of the game. The weather, fortunately, was in every respect
favourable to the match, and the greens, thanks to the keeper, Tom Dunn,
were in excellent order. Provost Broclic, previous to the match beginning,
stated that Captain Suttie had been asked to act as umpire, but that owing
to his unavoidable absence he had been prevented from complying with the
request. In these circumstances he had agreed to discharge the duties of
that official, and he trusted these would be of a light character. At the
end of the first round Morris had increased his advantage by 2 holes the
scores being, Morris 85, and Park (allowing an estimate for 2 holes he gave
up) 91. In the afternoon Tom brought the great match to a conclusion by
winning by 5 up and 3 to play. The umpire, in declaring the result, said
there was one feature peculiar to both Morris and Park, viz., that they ever
had the greatest respect for each other, adding that he trusted that they
would live long and yet be spared to play another match. The remaining holes
were played out. Tom won 2 of them, and 1 was halved. Tom's score was 85,
Willie's 86. Morris had the best of the play throughout in his long game and
approaches, but Park was decidedly the stronger on the putting green. I
subjoin an analysis of the whole match, the work, I have no doubt, of my old
friend, Mr James G. Denham. It will, I think, be interesting in itself and
for the names of the holes in the respective links over which the match was
played. Local names have to a large extent given place to numerical names,
and a good deal of colour, picturesqueness and interest has thus been lost.
In judging of a match where the players
are so equal, a great number of the holes should he halved. It will be
observed that the best play took place at Prestwick, where 19 holes out of
the 36 were halved, and next to it, North Berwick, where 14 was the result.
It only remains to be added that nothing could have excelled the long play
and approaches of old Tom, and those who remember his first encounter with
Park, as far back as 1856, were of opinion that had his putting been at all
up to the mark, his antagonist could not have lived, and that he would have
defeated him as he did in 1862, when he won over the four greens by 17
holes. Tom was singularly deficient in being short with his long putts,
which reminded one of the remark of young Tommy, "that his father would be a
good putter if the hole would only meet him half-way;" while, when he got
within holing distance, he has lately taken to his iron, and this has
certainly not improved him in holing out. But take him all in all, he is "a
grand old golfer," and one of whom the ancient guy may be justly proud.
So saith the chronicler of 1882; and, nearly a quarter of a century later,
so say all of us.
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