A look at some of the anniversaries this year at the 142nd British Open, to be played July 18-21 at Muirfield Golf Club:
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150 years ago (1863): In its earliest years, the British Open was a two-man show between Old Tom Morris and Willie Park Sr., who won the inaugural Open by two shots. Morris won the next two years in convincing fashion, and then Park matched him with his second title in 1863 at Prestwick. Against the largest field yet — 14 players — Park built a four-shot lead with a 54 in the second round, and Old Tom couldn't catch him. Park won by two shots. This was the first Open with prize money — 10 British sterling shared among the eight professionals in the field.
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100 years ago (1913): J.H. Taylor won at Royal Liverpool for his fifth British Open to tie Harry Vardon and James Braid. Perhaps equally notable about this championship was it featured an American for the first time — John McDermott, who had won the previous two U.S. Open titles. He tied for fifth. Taylor was one shot behind Ted Ray at the halfway point. Taylor seized control on the final day in a gale force wind with a 77, and then closed with a 79. Ray had a one-shot lead after the first day and wound up eight shots behind, courtesy of an 81-84 second day in the wind.
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75 years ago (1938): The Whitcombe brothers had been part of the British Open for more than a decade, and it was Reg who broke through at Royal St. George's in wind so fierce that it toppled the exhibition tent. Older brother Ernest Whitcombe shared the lead after 18 holes. Reg Whitcombe was two shots behind going to the 36-hole final. He took the lead with a 75 in the third round, and his 78 was enough to hold off Jimmy Adams. His winning score of 295 was the highest in seven years.
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