1920 Open Championship

Deal had been planned as the location for the Open Championship in 1915, but in early in that year it was decided that there would be no championships during the remainder of World War I; the next Open Championship would be held at Royal Cinque Ports 1920. Damaged during the war, the state of the course necessitated a revised layout, notably holes 8 to 13.

A field of 82 players – 74 professionals and eight amateurs – played on the June 30th and July 1st. The course length was 6,576 yards and the winner’s share of the prize fund was £75.

Walter Hagen, on his first visit to the Open in 1920, arrived in a chauffer driven ‘Austro Daimler’ together with a footman. He immediately fell out with authority, who insisted that professionals change in the Pro Shop rather than the Clubhouse. In response, he dressed in his hotel for the duration of the Championship. He parked his car at the flagpole outside the clubhouse, changing his shoes and sweater there. Hagen finished 53rd, with a score of 329.

George Duncan won with a score of 303 (80, 80, 71, 72), after being 13 strokes behind Abe Mitchell with two rounds to go. Duncan won by two strokes, ahead of Alex Herd, with Ted Ray and Abe Mitchell in 3rd and 4th place. The leading amateur, in 26th place, was William Irvine Hunter, son of Harry Hunter, the Cinque Ports professional.

“I think Deal one of the best and one of the fairest golf courses I have ever played on”

George Duncan – Open Champion 1920