1924 U.S. Open (golf)

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

{{Infobox individual golf tournament

| name = 1924 U.S. Open

| image =

| dates = June 5–6, 1924

| location = Birmingham, Michigan

| course = Oakland Hills Country Club
South Course

| tour =

| org = USGA

| format = Stroke play − 72 holes

| par = 72

| yardage = {{convert|6874|yd}}{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1924/06/06/page/25/article/jones-mehlhorn-low-with-147-in-national-open |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Davis |first=Joe |title=Jones, Mehlhorn low with 147 in National Open |date=June 6, 1924 |page=25}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=920uAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h9gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4053%2C4267118|newspaper=Miami News|agency=Associated Press|title=Jones divides National Open lead|date=June 6, 1924|page=8}}

| field = 84

| cut = none

| purse =

| winners_share = $500

| champion = {{flagicon|ENG}} Cyril Walker

| score = 297 (+9)

| previous = 1923

| next = 1925

}}

{{Location map

|USA

|relief = 1

|label = Oakland Hills Country Club

|lat = 42.544

|long = -83.277

|caption = Location in the United States

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 230

}}

{{Location map

|USA Michigan

|relief = 1

|label = Oakland Hills Country Club

|lat = 42.544

|long = -83.277

|caption = Location in Michigan

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 180

}}

The 1924 U.S. Open was the 28th U.S. Open, held June 5–6 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb northwest of Detroit. Cyril Walker, a relatively unknown Englishman, won his only major title at the South Course, three strokes ahead of runner-up Bobby Jones, the defending champion.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-G0uAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h9gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2081%2C4068467|newspaper=Miami News|agency=Associated Press|title=Cyril Walker wrests National Open golf title from Jones|date=June 7, 1924|page=8}}{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1924/06/07/page/13/article/walker-wins-national-open-jones-second |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Davis |first=Joe |title=Walker wins National Open, Jones second |date=June 7, 1924 |page=13}}

After the first two rounds of play on Thursday, Jones shared the lead with Bill Mehlhorn, with Walker a shot back. Walker shot a third consecutive 74 in the third round to tie Jones after 54 holes, with Mehlhorn one back. Jones and Mehlhorn, playing ahead of Walker in the final round, both played poorly, each carding 78. Leading by three on the 15th, Walker made bogey but then responded with a birdie on 16. He parred the final two holes to secure the championship.

This was the high point of Walker's golf career. He never won another significant title, and it was his only top ten finish in the U.S. Open; his next best finish in a major was the semifinals of the PGA Championship in 1921. A heavy drinker, Walker wound up working as a caddy and a dishwasher; unable to afford a room, he died in a New Jersey jail cell of pneumonia in 1948 at age 56.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=As8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-f8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3691%2C5142591 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=United Press |title=Cyril Walker dies; beat Bobby Jones |date=August 7, 1948 |page=10 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q3tWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=meUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6758%2C2910378 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Cyril Walker a pocket-sized Ben Hogan of his golfing day |date=August 23, 1948 |page=8 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uoMtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iJkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4408%2C191605 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |last=Carroll |first=Dick |title=The tragedy of Cyril Walker |date=July 2, 1955 |page=8 }}

This was the first of nine major championships held at the South Course through 2017; six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships.