The 1899 U.S. Open was the fifth U.S. Open, held September 14–15 at Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] Willie Smith won his only major title, a record eleven strokes ahead of three runners-up.[2][3]
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 14–15, 1899 |
| Location | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Course(s) | Baltimore Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Format | Stroke play − 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Field | 72 |
| Prize fund | $750 |
| Winner's share | $150 |
| Champion | |
 Willie Smith | |
| 315 | |
On Thursday, Smith and future four-time champion Willie Anderson co-led with 77 in the morning and Anderson took the lead in the afternoon at 158, with Smith a stroke back.[4] In the third round on Friday morning, Anderson's 85 allowed Smith to take a four-stroke lead over Alex Campbell, and his 77 in the afternoon distanced him from the field; Campbell ballooned to 94 and fell to twelfth.
Playing out of Midlothian Country Club in Chicago,[2] Smith was the only player to record three sub-80 rounds, and did not score higher than a seven on any hole in the championship. Val Fitzjohn, George Low, and Bert Way tied for second, eleven strokes behind.[3][5] Smith's margin of victory was the largest in the U.S. Open for 101 years, until Tiger Woods won by fifteen shots in 2000. Smith's brother Alex, a future two-time champion, finished seventh.
Smith won a gold medal and was given custody of the Championship Cup for a year.[6]
Round summaries
First round
Thursday, September 14, 1899 (morning)
| Place | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Anderson | 77 |
| Willie Smith | ||
| 3 |  Bert Way | 80 |
| T4 | Henry Gullane | 81 |
| Horace Rawlins | ||
| T6 | George Low | 82 |
| Alexander Patrick | ||
| Writ Thompson | ||
| T9 | Alex Campbell | 83 |
| David Foulis | ||
| Arthur Smith |
Second round
Thursday, September 14, 1899 (afternoon)
| Place | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Anderson | 77-81=158 |
| 2 | Willie Smith | 77-82=159 |
| 3 | George Low | 82-79=161 |
| T4 | Alex Campbell | 83-80=163 |
| Alex Smith | 82-81=163 | |
| T6 | Val Fitzjohn | 85-80=165 |
| Alexander Patrick | 82-83=165 | |
| Bert Way | 80-85=165 | |
| 9 | Horace Rawlins | 81-85=166 |
| 10 | Henry Gullane | 81-86=167 |
Third round
Friday, September 15, 1899 (morning)
| Place | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Smith | 77-82-79=238 |
| 2 | Alex Campbell | 83-80-79=242 |
| T3 | Willie Anderson | 77-81-85=243 |
| Jack Park | 88-80-75=243 | |
| 5 | Val Fitzjohn | 85-80-79=244 |
| T6 | Alex Smith | 82-81-82=245 |
| Bert Way | 80-85-80=245 | |
| T8 | Henry Gullane | 81-86-80=247 |
| Peter Walker | 84-86-77=247 | |
| 10 | George Low | 82-79-89=250 |
Final round
Friday, September 15, 1899 (afternoon)
| Place | Player | Score | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Smith | 77-82-79-77=315 | 150 |
| T2 | Val Fitzjohn | 85-80-79-82=326 | 125 |
| George Low | 82-79-89-76=326 | ||
| Bert Way | 80-85-80-81=326 | ||
| 5 | Willie Anderson | 77-81-85-84=327 | 80 |
| 6 | Jack Park | 88-80-75-85=328 | 70 |
| 7 | Alex Smith | 82-81-82-85=330 | 50 |
| 8 | Henry Gullane | 81-86-80-84=331 | 25 |
| T9 | Laurie Auchterlonie | 86-87-82-78=333 | 0 |
| Peter Walker | 84-86-77-86=333 |