We love this story about Bobby Jones forgetting his admission badge on the opening day of the 1926 Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

To gain entrance, he had to pay the admission fee of half a crown – which he did with good grace.

But it must have been a very lucky half crown, as Bobby Jones went on to win the tournament just three days later – as reported in the second story included below.

In the final round, Jones had been battling it out with the American professional, Al Watrous. All level, with two holes to play, Jones landed in sandy scrubland on the 17th fairway. With Watrous on the green in two, it looked like Jones would lose.

But with his trusty mashie iron, Jones played a sublime shot of 175 yards which ended up closer to the pin than his opponent’s ball. Not surprisingly, Jones then went on to win by two shots. There is a plaque commemorating Jones’s wonder shot beside a bunker on the 17th fairway.

The Archive contains 100s of other wonderful stories about the Open Championships that have taken place from 1860 to 1950. So why not try doing some searches for some of the famous players who have played in the Open and seeing what you can find?…

Nottingham Evening Post – Wednesday 23 June 1926

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19260623/021/0005

Western Morning News – Saturday 26 June 1926

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19260626/087/0010