Willie Park, Sr.

Considered one of the pioneers of professional golf, Willie Park, Sr. was a prominent club and ball maker, course designer and champion golfer whose major claim to fame was victory in the inaugural Open Championship in 1860 at Prestwick. Born June 30, 1933, in Wallyford, Scotland, Park was the first professional to rise from the caddie ranks to become an accomplished player, one known for his long drives and exceptional putting. That combination made him a tough foe in challenge matches, the most popular form of competition in the era. In the first four Opens, Park and his chief rival, Tom Morris, Sr., finished either first or second, with Park adding a second title in 1863 and then winning again in 1866 and 1875. His son, Willie Park, Jr. and his brother, Mungo, also won the Open. Park is credited with designing more than 30 golf courses, some with his son, before he dien May 25, 1903, in Edinburgh, Scotland.