1923 U.S. Open (golf)

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox individual golf tournament

| name = 1923 U.S. Open

| image =

| dates = July 13–15, 1923

| location = Inwood, New York

| course = Inwood Country Club

| tour =

| org = USGA

| format = Stroke play − 72 holes

| par = 72

| yardage = {{convert|6632|yd}}{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1923/07/14/page/8/article/jock-hutchisons-142-sets-record-to-top-inwood-field |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |agency=Associated Press |title=Jock Hutchinson's 142 sets record to top Inwood field |date=July 14, 1923 |page=8}}

| field = 77

| cut = none

| purse =

| winners_share = ($500)

| champion = {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bobby Jones (a)

| score = 296 (+8), playoff

| previous = 1922

| next = 1924

}}

{{Location map

|USA

|relief = 1

|label = Inwood CC

|lat = 40.622

|long = -73.756

|caption = Location in the United States

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 230

}}

{{Location map

|USA New York

|relief = 1

|label = Inwood CC

|lat = 40.622

|long = -73.756

|caption = Location in New York

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 160

}}

The 1923 U.S. Open was the 27th U.S. Open, held July 13–15 at Inwood Country Club in Inwood, New York, a suburb east of New York City on Long Island. Amateur golf legend Bobby Jones, age 21, captured his first career major championship, defeating Bobby Cruickshank by two strokes in an 18-hole Sunday playoff.

Qualifying directly preceded the tournament proper,{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1923/07/13/page/13/article/guilford-falls-star-pros-waver-in-national-open |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |title=Guilford falls, star pros waver in National Open |date=July 13, 1923 |page=13}} which was held on Friday and Saturday, 36 holes per day, with no cut.

Jones held a three-stroke lead through 54 holes, but struggled throughout the final round on Saturday afternoon. He bogeyed the first, hit his tee shot out of bounds at the par-3 seventh for a double bogey, hit his second shot on 16 into the parking lot, and then added another bogey at 17. Still with the lead heading to the 18th, Jones made a double-bogey for a round of 76 (+4) and 296 (+8) total. Cruickshank, playing behind Jones, made double bogey at 16 and had to birdie the last to tie Jones; he hit his approach shot to {{convert|5|ft|spell=in}} and made the putt.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6-ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=weEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6195%2C1719682 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Cruickshank ties Jones at Inwood |agency=Associated Press |date=July 15, 1923 |page=4-part 2}}{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1923/07/15/page/1/article/cruickshank-and-jones-tie-for-golf-title |newspaper=Chicago Sunday Tribune |last=Fullerton |first=Hugh |title=Cruickshank and Jones tie for golf title |date=July 15, 1923 |page=1}}

During the 18-hole playoff on Sunday, Jones and Cruickshank only halved three of the first 17 holes, but they were all square heading to the 18th. After both players drove into the rough, Cruickshank elected to lay up short of the green, but Jones went for it and hit a 2-iron to {{convert|8|ft}}. After Cruickshank put his third shot into a bunker and fourth to {{convert|15|ft}}, Jones two-putted for the championship.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IPMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PooFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6881%2C1759638|newspaper=Montreal Gazette |title=Robert Jones won title in play-off |agency=Associated Press |date=July 16, 1923 |page=13 }}{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1923/07/16/page/1/article/bobby-jones-wins-golf-title-on-last-hole|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Fullerton |first=Hugh |title=Bobby Jones wins golf title on last hole |date=July 16, 1923 |page=1}}

This was the first of Jones' four U.S. Open titles, a record shared with three others: Willie Anderson, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. It was also the first of four playoffs Jones was involved in, winning twice.