Tom Morris, Sr.

Old Tom Morris with Young Tom Morris ca.

Tom Morris, Sr. (1821 – 1908), otherwise known as "Old Tom Morris", was one of the pioneers of professional golf. He was born in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, the "home of golf" and location of the St Andrews Links and died there as well. His son Tom Morris, Jr. (d. 1875), best-known as "Young Tom Morris", was also a champion golfer.

Morris was an apprentice to Allan Robertson, generally regarded as the first professional golfer. He worked as a greenkeeper, clubmaker and course designer, as well as playing tournament golf. He came second in the first Open Championship in 1860, and won the following year. He followed this up with further victories in 1862, 1864 and 1867. He still holds records as the oldest winner of The Open Championship at 46. Also he was part of the only father/son couple being winner and runner-up.

Tom Morris Senior, photographed in the 1890's

Morris played a role in designing courses across the British Isles, including Muirfield, Prestwick, Carnoustie, Warkworth in Northumberland, same year (1891) as Muirfield, Askernish links in South Uist and Rosapenna links in Ireland.

There is currently a road in St Andrews, Fife named after him. The 18th hole at St Andrews golf course is named after the golfer in memory of his commitment to the course, and to golf in general.

Tom Morris was also the father of modern Greens-Keeping. He introduced the concept of top-dressing greens and introduced many novel ideas on turf and course management, including actively managing hazards (in the past, bunkers and the like were largely left to their own devices, becoming truly "hazardous"). In course design he standardized the golf course length at 18 holes (St. Andrews had at one time been 23 holes), and introduced the concept of each nine holes returning to the club house. He also introduced the modern idea of placing hazards so that the golf ball could be routed around them. Before his times hazards were thought of as obstacles that either had to be carried or were there to punish a wayward ball.

Old Tom Morris had the biggest margin of victory (13 strokes) in the 1862 British Open, a record which stood until Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes.

Caminito Tom Morris, a street in Windemere, a La Jolla, California, gated housing community, is named after him.

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