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The Father of Golf – The Story Behind Old Man Tom Morris

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When most golfers think of the home of golf, St. Andrews is pretty much the first track that comes to mind.
 
But if St. Andrews is the home of golf, who is the father of golf? 
 
Is it Jack Nicklaus? Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer?
 
Or someone else…
 
Surprisingly enough, it’s not actually any of these legends but instead, Old Man Tom Morris. Not to be confused with Young Tom Morris, his son, who was also a legendary Scottish professional golfer.
 
In his life, he made a tremendous impact on the game and is still known as the Father of Golf today. Keep reading to learn more about this legend of the game and why he is loved by golfers worldwide.
 

Who is Tom Morris?

It’s only right that the father of golf was born at the home of golf, St. Andrews. From an early age, Tom was obsessed with the sport, even though it was relatively new at the time.
 
By the time he was 14 years old, he was caddying and became an apprentice for Allan Robertson. If this name isn’t familiar, it should be, as he is known as the first professional golfer ever!
 
The two men became great friends and played as a team in alternate shot formats, never losing when paired together. In fact, they were even nicknamed “The Invincibles.”
 
Sadly, the relationship ended on a sour note after Tom was fired by Allan for playing a different type of golf ball (Allan was the manufacturer of the main competition). After getting fired in 1851, he temporarily left St. Andrews and started a business at Prestwick Golf Club.
 

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The Open Championship

After joining the Prestwick Golf Club, he helped start The Open Championship. In fact, he hit the very first shot ever in the now iconic event!
 
During the inaugural event, he went on to place second and won the following year in 1860. Maybe the craziest thing about Tom is that he only played with five clubs in the bag!
 
Yet, he continued to dominate the Open Championship and won three more times (1862, 1864, and 1867). What’s even more impressive is that he won his last Open at 46 years old. The same year, his son came in second place, making it an epic finish for the family.
 

Young Tom Morris

Speaking of his son, commonly referred to as “Young Tom Morris” was also an incredible golfer as well. By the time he was 13, he first beat his father for the first time, who was the Open champion.
 
Young Tom and his dad played tougher in challenge matches and found a ton of success as a team. During one match, Young Tom got a telegram to come home as his wife was having birth complications.
 
After winning their match, they came back but sadly, his wife and child had passed away unexpectedly. Unfortunately, young Tom Morris also died very young at only 24 years old in 1875.
 

Return to St. Andrews

After his success at the Open Championship, he was hired back to his home club, St. Andrews in 1864 as the course was in bad condition. He brought the course back to its glory with new greenskeeping techniques and became a major golf course architect. He came back to work there for 39 years as both a head professional and greenskeeper.
 
Eventually, he passed away just before he turned 87 after living a long and prosperous life. His grave is located close to his sons and is a must-see attraction for anyone who visits St. Andrews. Players from around the world love to pay their respects to this legend of the game.
 

Old Tom Morris – 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know

Want to learn more about Old Tom Morris? 
 
Check out these 10 awesome facts about the life of this golf icon:
 
1. Tom started golfing at the age of 10 but not with traditional balls and clubs. Instead, he used wine bottle corks pierced with nails before working in the golf industry.
 
2. In 2017, a movie titled “Tommy’s Honour” was released based on the complex relationship between Old Man Tom and Young Tom Morris.
 
3. He played competitive golf until he was 74 years old (could you imagine if PGA Tour players did that in today’s world?)
 
4. Tom competed in 36 consecutive British Open championships.
 
5. Between him and his son, they have a combined eight Open championships.
 
6. Tom also designed golf clubs too. Not to mention built golf courses, worked as a head professional, and a world-class greenskeeper.
 
7. He also did redesigns of courses and worked on over 75 courses in his life. Some of his most significant redesign projects were Muirfield and Carnoustie Golf Links.
 
8. Tom served as a mentor to Donald Ross, the famous golf course architect who is responsible for Pinehurst No. 2.
 
9. He was just the second player ever to break 80 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
 
10. Tom was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976. His son was also awarded the prestigious honor as well.
 
Let’s never forget the Father of Golf and all that he did for the sport we love!
 
 
Written By Michael Leonard

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One of the Greatest Putts in U.S. Open History?

JJ Spaun’s 64-Foot Walk-Off

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When JJ Spaun stood over a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, few could have predicted what would come next. The ball meandered across the slick green, trickling over every contour, picking up speed at the crest, and then—like it had GPS—dropped center cup. Spaun dropped his putter, raised his arms, and the crowd erupted. With that single stroke, he claimed his first major title in one of the most dramatic finishes in U.S. Open history.

But how does Spaun’s putt stack up against other legendary finishes in the tournament’s storied past? Let’s break down some of the most iconic moments and see where this one lands.


1. Payne Stewart – 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Perhaps the most iconic putt in U.S. Open history came from Payne Stewart, who nailed a 15-footer for par on the 18th to win by one over Phil Mickelson. The pose—fist pump and outstretched leg—has since been immortalized in a statue at Pinehurst. What made it legendary wasn’t just the putt—it was the context: Stewart’s final major before his tragic death just months later.

Verdict: Iconic and emotional. Spaun’s putt was longer, but Stewart’s was more poetic.


2. Tiger Woods – 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines

Woods drained a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate—while basically playing on one leg. That tournament went to sudden death after an 18-hole playoff, and Tiger prevailed. This was peak Tiger drama, pain and all.

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Verdict: Spaun’s putt was longer, but Tiger’s win was sheer willpower and mystique.


3. Jack Nicklaus – 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

With a 1-iron shot that hit the flagstick on 17 and a crucial birdie putt on 18, Jack sealed a dominant win. His precision and timing under pressure showed why he’s the GOAT.

Verdict: Not a putt for the win, but a signature finishing statement from Jack. Spaun’s was more electric in terms of pure putter drama.


4. Ben Hogan – 1950 U.S. Open at Merion

Hogan’s 1-iron into the 18th fairway and the par to force a playoff—just 16 months after a near-fatal car crash—remain legendary. He won the playoff and completed one of golf’s great comeback stories.

Verdict: Larger-than-life comeback. Spaun’s putt had more flair, but Hogan’s win was heroic.


5. JJ Spaun – 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont

Let’s not underestimate what Spaun accomplished. The pressure was immense. He wasn’t the favorite. And on the most treacherous greens in golf, he buried a 64-foot bomb—a putt most players would be happy to lag to within 5 feet—to win the U.S. Open outright.

Verdict: For distance, surprise, and drama, Spaun’s putt may be the most shocking winning stroke in U.S. Open history.


Final Thoughts

JJ Spaun may not have the résumé of a Nicklaus or Woods, but for one Sunday afternoon in June 2025, he created a moment that will live in golf lore forever. Spaun’s putt was longer than Stewart’s, more unexpected than Tiger’s, and more dramatic than any final-hole finish in recent memory.

In terms of pure clutch putting? It might just be the greatest walk-off in U.S. Open history.


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The Zen of the Shank: Finding Inner Peace in Your Worst Shots

Find your inner peace even when you aren’t playing well.

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Ah, the shank. That glorious, unpredictable misfire that sends your pristine golf ball screaming sideways, often directly into the unsuspecting shins of your playing partner, or perhaps, with a touch of poetic irony, into the very lake you’ve been trying to avoid all day. Most golfers, bless their earnest little hearts, view the shank as a catastrophic failure, a blight upon their scorecard, a testament to their inherent lack of coordination. They curse, they throw clubs, they contemplate a career in competitive thumb-wrestling. But not I. No, my friends, for I, Ty Webb, have found enlightenment in the humble shank.

You see, the shank is not a mistake; it’s a revelation. It’s the universe’s way of reminding you that control is an illusion, that perfection is a myth, and that sometimes, the most direct path to your goal is, in fact, a wildly indirect one. Think of it as a philosophical detour, a sudden, unexpected journey into the unknown. One moment, you’re aiming for the green, a paragon of precision and intent. The next, your ball is ricocheting off a tree, narrowly missing a squirrel, and landing, by some divine comedic intervention, closer to the hole than your perfectly struck drive ever would have. Is that not a miracle? Is that not a sign that the golf gods, much like life itself, have a wicked sense of humor?

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The key, my dear apprentices of the links, is acceptance. Embrace the shank. Welcome it with open arms, like a long-lost, slightly inebriated relative. When that familiar, sickening thwack echoes through the air, do not despair. Instead, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Feel the gentle breeze on your face. And then, with a knowing smile, open them and observe the chaos you have wrought. Is it not beautiful in its own chaotic way? Is there not a certain freedom in relinquishing control, in allowing the ball to choose its own destiny, however bizarre that destiny may be?

Some say the shank is a sign of poor technique. I say it’s a sign of a vibrant, untamed spirit. A golfer who never shanks is a golfer who has never truly lived, never truly explored the outer limits of their own golfing absurdity. They are content with mediocrity, with predictable trajectories and mundane outcomes. But you, my enlightened few, you understand that the true joy of golf lies not in the score, but in the story. And what a story a good shank can tell.

So, the next time you feel that familiar tremor of a shank brewing, don’t fight it. Let it flow. Let it be. For in the heart of every shank lies a lesson, a laugh, and perhaps, just perhaps, a path to a lower score you never saw coming. After all, as the great philosopher Basho once said, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” And a golf game without a shank? Well, that’s just not golf, is it?

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Meet The Canadian Open Qualifier Tied To ClickIt Golf!

“This week was incredible,” he said. “A dream come true.”

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Josh Goldenberg doesn’t plan to quit his day job. But he had a great time dabbling in his old career.

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PING Hoofer

He gave up on pro golf, then qualified for his first PGA Tour event.

Read the full story here
https://golf.com/news/josh-goldenberg-rbc-canadian-open/?amp=1

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