Significant "Firsts"

By Ron Whitten
June 2008

1904

First Open with 36-hole cut.

1912

First Open where par was assigned -- CC of Buffalo given a par of 74. Johnny McDermott shoots 294, becomes first Open player to finish under par.

1922

First Open where USGA charges admission -- $1 a day, $5 for the week. 10,000 people witness the last round.

1930

First Open radio broadcast (KSTP-AM).

1954

First Open to be nationally telecast (NBC). Also, first with roped-off fairways.

1959

First Open without a 36-hole windup, due to Saturday thunderstorms. But New York law prohibited Sunday sporting events from starting until 2 p.m. so final starting time was 4:45 p.m.

1961

First Open where final-round pairings are based on score.

1965

First Open telecast in color. Bellerive members spray-paint the last two greens so they will look nice on TV.

1985

First Open double eagle, by T.C. Chen on second hole of first round.

2002

First Open to have a two-tee start.
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