Willie Park Sr.

Willie Park Sr.
Park wearing the Challenge Belt
Personal information
Full name	William Park Sr.
Nickname	Willie
Born	(1833-06-30)30 June 1833 Wallyford, East Lothian, Scotland, UK
Died	25 July 1903(1903-07-25) (aged 70) Levenhall, Musselburgh, Scotland, UK
Sporting nationality	Scotland
Spouse	Susanna Law
Children	10
Career
Status	Professional
Best results in major championships (wins: 4)
The Open Championship	Won: 1860, 1863, 1866, 1875
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2005 (member page)

Park (c. 1867)

William Park Sr. (30 June 1833 – 25 July 1903) was a Scottish professional golfer. He was a 4-time winner of the Open Championship.

Early life

Park was born in Wallyford, East Lothian, Scotland. Like some of the other early professional golfers, Park started out as a caddie. He later ran a golf equipment manufacturing business. On the course, he made his money from "challenge matches" against rivals such as Old Tom Morris, Willie Dunn and Allan Robertson, which were the most popular form of spectator golf in his era.

Playing style

Park, a tall, strong man, was a very long hitter and an excellent putter, but sometimes got into trouble through overly aggressive play. He had surpassed the older Willie Dunn by age 20, and travelled to St Andrews Links to play and learn that course. He issued a public challenge in 1853 to Robertson, generally recognised as the best player, which was, however, not taken up. Custom of the time allowed the best player to refuse a challenge of this sort without damage to his reputation. Park further fuelled controversy through his aggressive self-promotion, but this did lead to increased interest in golf rivalries, more press coverage, and more matches and tournaments being set up, developing the professional game and increasing the incomes of players such as Park, Morris, and Robertson.

Family

He married Susanna Law in Inveresk, Scotland, on 29 March 1860. The couple would have ten children.

Park's brother Mungo and his son Willie Jr. both also won the Open Championship. Mungo's victory came in 1874 and Willie Jr. had two wins, in 1887 and 1889.

Death and legacy

Park died on 25 July 1903. He is primarily best remembered as the winner of four Open Championships, including the inaugural event in 1860, when the field was just eight strong. His other victories came in 1863, 1866 and 1875. Park was the co-holder of the record for most wins in the tournament until James Braid picked up his fifth win in 1910.

Major championship

Wins (4)

Year	Championship	24 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1860	The Open Championship	Not known	55-59-60=174	2 strokes	Tom Morris Sr.
1863	The Open Championship (2)	4 shot lead	56-54-58=168	2 strokes	Tom Morris Sr.
1866	The Open Championship (3)	5 shot lead	54-56-59=169	2 strokes	Davie Park
1875	The Open Championship (4)	1 shot deficit	56-59-51=166	2 strokes	Bob Martin

Results timeline

Tournament	1860	1861	1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869
The Open Championship	1	2	2	1	4	2	1	2	4

Tournament	1870	1871	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1879
The Open Championship	6	NT			13	1	3	T8	T6

Tournament	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886
The Open Championship	15	T9	T7	22			T36

• Note: Park played only in The Open Championship.

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

NT = No tournament
"T" indicates a tie for a place

See also

• Golf in Scotland