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The David v. Goliath story works better when it is also painted as a class contrast.Harry Vardon may have been poorer.They all faired well in the end, especially Eddy!
Quote from: Ian Mackenzie on June 16, 2022, 06:00:53 PMThe David v. Goliath story works better when it is also painted as a class contrast.Harry Vardon may have been poorer.They all faired well in the end, especially Eddy!The media writes a narrative that will get attention, even in that era. The fact that they all faired well in the end shows he wasn't poor.I do think golf in the US has a larger divide in class/wealth than in the UK/Ireland...it's just not official like it was previously in the UK (Lords/Commons). I'm on a NI/Ireland trip now and have randomly been paired with a billionaire golf developer and a grocery store worker. That being said I also played the Valley at Portrush and it's pretty clear they still have a bit of a class system in play...but I'd take playing on the Valley course every day.Our ability to play a leisure game/sport like golf shows we're doing pretty good in life.
All you need to know about class, wealth, and privilege in the United States in 1913 is that an American had already won the US Open prior to Ouimet...two years in a row, in fact, but a former caddie who turned...horror of horrors...into a golf professional didn't resonate as a great American success story in a society where such laborers were seen as a necessary evil not befitting proper society.
Rob Marshall,Yes, Francis Ouimet was a lifelong amateur except for the period from 1916 until after WWI when the USGA stripped him of his amateur status because he was viewed as capitalizing on his golf notoriety to enhance the success of his sporting goods store.I wasn't referring to Ouimet, however. I was referring to the other American who won back-to-back US Opens in 1911 & 1912 prior to Ouimet's storied victory in 1913.
My friend and I played Royal Liverpool about 7 years ago. After we were finished, the caddies asked us if we would like to go upstairs and have a drink and play snookers. I mention that I thought that was for members only and the caddies tell us not to worry, they are members.
I wasn't referring to Ouimet, however. I was referring to the other American who won back-to-back US Opens in 1911 & 1912 prior to Ouimet's storied victory in 1913.
Tommy,My friend John Burnes did extensive research on McDermott and was able to get the state of Pennsylvania to erect a historical marker in his honor near the old site of Aronimink where he caddied.I'm hopeful there's a book at some point.
Quote from: MCirba on June 17, 2022, 04:20:53 PMTommy,My friend John Burnes did extensive research on McDermott and was able to get the state of Pennsylvania to erect a historical marker in his honor near the old site of Aronimink where he caddied.I'm hopeful there's a book at some point.Good for Mr. Burns. I hope there is a book as well. I’d like to know more about him. The early part of the 20th century was not a good time to have some kind of mental/emotional problem.
Quote from: MCirba on June 17, 2022, 02:01:20 PMI wasn't referring to Ouimet, however. I was referring to the other American who won back-to-back US Opens in 1911 & 1912 prior to Ouimet's storied victory in 1913.This John J McDermott. He won the US Open at age 19, the second youngest person to ever win a major. I have a soft spot in my heart for him. He lost a playoff for the Open in 1910. I guess he was very brash and didn't win many friends. In 1913 he won the Shawnee Open, in which Vardon and Ray played. Evidently he told them in no uncertain terms that they should go home because they had no chance to win the Open at TCC. He went on to finish 8th in 1913. A year later he had some kind of breakdown and spent the next 60 years in and out of mental hospitals. There is speculation that some of his outbursts might have been early manifestations of his illness. His is a sad story and is one of the ultimate "might have been" stories.In 1971 his sisters brought him to Merion where he watched Trevino win. Palmer recognized him and befriended him when he was asked to leave the pro shop. a few weeks later he was dead.
As I recall, McDermott suffered from a readily diagnosible and medically manageable condition, had he been around today. Back then, I can't imagine what he went through.Perhaps John, who sometimes posts here, will weigh in with more specifics.