| Willie Park, Snr. | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Park, Sr. |
| Nickname | Willie |
| Born | 30 June 1833 Wallyford, Musselburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Died | 25 July 1903 (aged 70) |
| Nationality |  Scotland |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 4) |
|
| Open Championship | Won: 1860, 1863, 1866, 1875 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2005 (member page) |
 |
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William "Willie" Park, Sr. (30 June 1833 –25 July 1903) was one of the pioneers of professional golf.
Park was born in Musselburgh, 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.
Park 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.
Park's brother, Mungo, and his son Willie, Jr. both won the Open Championship.
Open Championship wins (4)
| Year | Championship | 36 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | The Open Championship | (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 |  Dave Park |
| 1875 | The Open Championship (4) | 1 shot deficit | (56-59-51=166) | 2 strokes | Bob Martin |
See also
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