The Greatest Game Ever Played

Before 1913, golf had been a minority sport in the US. A British import, it was a game dominated by its creators, and none more so than Harry Vardon, multiple Open champion and ‘King of Clubs’. Twenty-three years his junior, Francis Ouimet had developed a love for the game despite his father’s fierce disapproval. His part in the 1913 US Open was meant to be as a spectator, but after a strong performance at the National Amateur Championships the powers that be insisted he compete.

Amateur versus Professional. Novice versus master. Local boy versus all-conquering hero. Britain versus America. No one gave Ouimet a chance. But as the tournament went on, and his galleries got bigger, people began to think the unthinkable