US Open countdown: In 1926 Bobby Jones becomes first golfer to hold British Open and US Open titles at same time
30th U.S. Open | July 8-10, 1926
Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio
Leaderboard
| Bobby Jones, United States (a) | 70 | - | 79 | - | 71 | - | 73 | — | 293 |
| Joe Turnesa, United States | 71 | - | 74 | - | 72 | - | 77 | — | 294 |
| Leo Diegel, United States | 72 | - | 76 | - | 75 | - | 74 | — | 297 |
| Johnny Farrell, United States | 76 | - | 79 | - | 69 | - | 73 | — | 297 |
| Bill Mehlhorn, United States | 68 | - | 75 | - | 76 | - | 78 | — | 297 |
| Gene Sarazan, United States | 78 | - | 77 | - | 72 | - | 70 | — | 297 |
| a-amateur |
If any doubt existed who the best golfer in the land was, Jones put it to rest in Ohio.
What made winning a second U.S. Open more remarkable was what unfolded for Jones leading up to the tournament. He had a whirlwind six weeks of golf overseas, first at the British Amateur, then the Walker Cup and finally winning his first British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.
Admittedly he was worn out before this U.S. Open began, but he gamely teed it up — and put forth a back-nine flurry in the final round that impressed even the sternest golf admirers.
Amid a heavy rainstorm and swirling gusts, Jones somehow played Scioto CC’s difficult back nine in 1-under-par 35, punctuated by a memorable final hole.
Into the wind, Jones ripped a drive that exceeded 300 yards, then pulled off a long-iron approach to the par-5 hole that nestled 15 feet away from the cup. He two-putted for a final-round 73.
Turnesa, one of seven golfing brothers from New York and a winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments, melted away on the same stretch of holes — making five bogeys in six holes to lose a three-shot lead.
As Jones wearily sat in the locker room during Turnesa’s meltdown, one clubhouse member mentioned that an 18-hole playoff was still a possibility — to which Jones replied, “I am going over to the hotel now and packing my stuff, because I am not going to be hitting any more golf balls for some days.”
Ultimately he didn’t need to — Jones won by one stroke to become the first golfer to hold the British Open and U.S. Open titles in the same season.
Because of the growing field — the U.S. Open attracted 117 players that year — and larger galleries, the USGA decided to extend the four-round tournament over three days — with the final 36 holes played on the last day.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 4:04 PM with the headline "US Open countdown: In 1926 Bobby Jones becomes first golfer to hold British Open and US Open titles at same time."