2023 June Golf Memorabilia Auction - Closing Date 6/18/2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/19/2023
1946 The Open Championship at St. Andrews Official Program - Sam Snead Winner
The Royal & Ancient held the first Open Championship at St Andrews since WWII put a temporary pause on golf after the 1939 competition - passing out this very 'Official Programme' to the spectating Scots that week. Preserved in unimprovable condition, the blue softcover contains the tightly bound contents including the printed two-round qualifying score with the handwritten first round of play beside it in blue ink for each contestant. Along with caddy numbers and black and white advertising featuring the Penfold Man graphics and Spalding's reference of the last American hero to play the Old Course in Bobby Jones. The original recipient's name is notated on the top front cover, with the ballpoint pen signature of the competitor tied with Snead and Bulla atop the leader-board going into round 4 - Dai Rees. Achieving the aforementioned very good condition, the time-period normalized soft compact crease down the center from the storing and walking of gentlemen inside their jacket pocket while taking in the tournament. The tournament's unfolding in 1946 at St Andrews would not soon be forgotten, a topic of conversation nearly 80 years later.
The lengthy seven year wait was worth it. Sam Snead was crowned Champion Golfer of the year for the first and only time at the end of four rounds of tournament play after two more for qualifying (yes he had to qualify). Sam Snead recorded his second of seven majors at The Home of Golf. Snead's cumulative 290 2-under score was good enough for a four stroke victory, and a $600 check, over Locke and Bulla. It wouldn't be without slight controversy for the unfamiliar face (Snead) in an unfamiliar land to him. Snead was less than complementary initially when greeted with what he felt was an underwhelming ovation, pressured to travel for the competition by his longtime sponsor Wilson. "It looks like an old abandoned kinda place" the Slammer infamously mentioned along with other rather disparaging comments while shooting an opening 71. Snead was joined by countrymen runner-up Johnny Bulla who tied with Bobby Locke, along with Lawson Little in 10th. All of four Americans were in the entire 100 contestant field - three finishing in the top 10. The trip across the pond was not a successful one for many in the US during that time, with the 'Hillbilly Pro' not returning to defend his title in 1947. Only three United States golfers won The Open Championship in the 21 year span between Denny Shute in 1933 and Ben Hogan in 1953.
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