| Bob Ferguson | |
|---|---|
 Bob Ferguson,c. 1903 | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Robert Ferguson |
| Born | c. 1846 Musselburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 19 May 1915 (aged 69) Musselburgh, Scotland |
| Sporting nationality |  Scotland |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 3) | |
| The Open Championship | Won:1880,1881,1882 |
Robert Ferguson (c. 1846 – 19 May 1915) was aScottish professionalgolfer who was one of the top players from the mid-1860s into the 1880s. He won a hat-trick of consecutive titles atThe Open Championship in1880,1881 and1882.[1]
In addition to the three Open Championship wins, he posted top-10 finishes seven times.
Ferguson was born inMusselburgh,East Lothian, Scotland, circa 1846.
In addition to his three Open Championship titles, Ferguson was especially noted for hisputting, not only on the green but off. He specialized in "run up" shots with his putter—the so-called "Musselburgh iron"—from well off the green.[2] He is one of only four men who have won The Open three years in a row. The prize for his first win was£7.
Ferguson's home town of Musselburgh was one of the three venues in the Open Championship rotation. He startedcaddying there at the age of eight, and played his first competition atLeith when he was 18. He was a tall man, and was known as a long driver. He sometimes partnered with fellow Musselburgh top playerWillie Park Sr., a four-time Open champion, in stakes matches, facing opponents such as the father-and-son team ofOld Tom Morris andYoung Tom Morris, ofSt. Andrews, between the mid-1860s and mid-1870s. Both of the Morrises were four-time Open champions. He also faced Young Tom Morris in singles play during this era.[3] His playing career was cut short by a bout oftyphoid, and he became the custodian of theLinks at Musselburgh.
Ferguson died in Musselburgh on 19 May 1915.[4][5][6]
| Year | Championship | 18/24 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | 40-41-42-39=162 | 5 strokes | Peter Paxton |
| 1881 | The Open Championship (2) | 3 shot lead | 53-60-57=170 | 3 strokes | Jamie Anderson |
| 1882 | The Open Championship (3) | 3 shot lead | 83-88=171 | 3 strokes | Willie Fernie |
| Tournament | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 5 | NT | T8 | 4 | T3 | 6 |
| Tournament | 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | T4 | T15 |
NT = No tournament
"T" indicates a tie for a place