1946 U.S. Open Golf Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1946 U.S. Open Championship was the 46th U.S. Open
, and the first to be played since 1941, the tournament having been suspended following America's entry into World War II
. It was held at Canterbury Golf Club
. Lloyd Mangrum
won the championship after a 36-hole playoff.
At the end of 72 holes of regulation play, Byron Nelson
, Lloyd Mangrum
and Vic Ghezzi
were in a three-way tie for first place at 284. Nelson would have won with 283 strokes, but on the 13th hole of the first round, Nelson's fans crowded the green and his caddy had accidentally kicked the ball, costing a penalty stroke. The next day, the three men tied again at 72 in the first 18-hole playoff. In the second playoff, played during a violent thunderstorm, Mangrum finished at 72, a stroke ahead of Nelson and Ghezzi.
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
, and the first to be played since 1941, the tournament having been suspended following America's entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was held at Canterbury Golf Club
Canterbury Golf Club
The Canterbury Golf Club, in Beachwood , near Cleveland, Ohio was organized more than half century ago when a group of prominent Cleveland men interested in playing golf on a championship course gathered for that purpose at the University Club...
. Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Eugene Mangrum was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas...
won the championship after a 36-hole playoff.
At the end of 72 holes of regulation play, Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
, Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Eugene Mangrum was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas...
and Vic Ghezzi
Vic Ghezzi
Victor J. Ghezzi was an American golfer. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour including one major championship, the 1941 PGA Championship. He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams, 1939, 1941, and 1943 but each was canceled due to World War II...
were in a three-way tie for first place at 284. Nelson would have won with 283 strokes, but on the 13th hole of the first round, Nelson's fans crowded the green and his caddy had accidentally kicked the ball, costing a penalty stroke. The next day, the three men tied again at 72 in the first 18-hole playoff. In the second playoff, played during a violent thunderstorm, Mangrum finished at 72, a stroke ahead of Nelson and Ghezzi.
Final leaderboard
| # | Player | Country | Score | To par | Winnings($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lloyd Mangrum Lloyd Mangrum Lloyd Eugene Mangrum was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas... * |
74-77-68-72=284 | -4 | 1,500 | |
| T2 | Vic Ghezzi Vic Ghezzi Victor J. Ghezzi was an American golfer. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour including one major championship, the 1941 PGA Championship. He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams, 1939, 1941, and 1943 but each was canceled due to World War II... |
71-69-72-72=284 | 875 | ||
| Byron Nelson Byron Nelson John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912... |
71-71-69-73=284 | ||||
| T4 | Herman Barron Herman Barron Herman Barron was an American professional golfer best known for being the first Jewish golfer to win a PGA Tour event.-Biography:... |
72-72-72-69=285 | -3 | 550 | |
| Ben Hogan Ben Hogan William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game... |
72-68-73-72=285 | ||||
| T6 | Jimmy Demaret Jimmy Demaret James Newton Demaret was an American professional golfer. He won 31 PGA Tour events in a long career between 1935 and 1957, and was the first three-time winner of the Masters.... |
71-74-73-68=286 | -2 | 350 | |
| Ed Oliver | 71-71-74-70=286 | ||||
| T8 | Chick Harbert | 72-78-67-70=287 | -1 | 225 | |
| Dick Metz Dick Metz Richard C. Metz was an American professional golfer.Metz won 10 times on the PGA Tour in the 1930s and 1940s. He had continued success as a senior golfer winning the Senior PGA Championship and World Seniors Championship in 1960.Metz married actress Jean Chatburn on November 2, 1939. He was also a... |
76-70-72-69=287 | ||||
| T10 | E. J. "Dutch" Harrsion | 75-71-72-70=288 | E | 175 | |
| Lawson Little Lawson Little William Lawson Little, Jr. was an American professional golfer who also had a distinguished amateur career.... |
72-69-76-71=288 |
- *Mangrum (72) defeated Nelson (73) and Ghezzi (73) in the second 18-hole playoff (each shot 72 in the first 18-hole playoff).