Nationality Scotland Masters Tournament DNP The Open Championship DNP Professional wins 2 | Status Professional U.S. Open T6: 1904 PGA Championship DNP | |
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Died 1923, Carnoustie, United Kingdom | ||
Robert Simpson (1862–1923), born in Elie, Scotland, was a Scottish professional golfer, golf course architect, and club maker who played in the early 20th century. Simpson tied for sixth place in the 1904 U.S. Open. He won the Western Open twice, in 1907 and 1911.
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Early life
Simpson was born in Elie, Scotland, in 1862. A club maker by trade, he apprenticed at age 16 in Elie under the direction of George Forrester whose club making business was located near the golf course in Elie. Simpson later worked under master club maker Robert Forgan in St. Andrews. He held the post of head professional at Carnoustie from 1891 to 1898.
He had five brothers who were all accomplished golfers. Jack Simpson won the 1884 Open Championship and Archie, who emigrated to the United States, was also a fine player with eight top-10 finishes in the Open Championship. By 1907—the year he won his first Western Open title—Robert was playing out of Omaha Field Club in Omaha, Nebraska. He beat Willie Anderson by two shots to take home the first prize.
1904 U.S. Open
The 1904 U.S. Open was held July 8–9, 1904, at Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois. Scottish professional Willie Anderson won his second consecutive, and third overall, U.S. Open title by five strokes over Gilbert Nicholls. Simpson carded rounds of 82-82-76-76=316 and finished tied in sixth place with Stewart Gardner and Percy Barrett. He won $53 in prize money.
Details of play
Defending champion Willie Anderson shared the lead with Stewart Gardner at the end of the first round. He found himself two shots astray of Gardner after two rounds of play. In the third round, Fred Mackenzie shot a 74 to take a two-shot lead over Anderson and Gardner heading to the last round. Mackenzie and Gardner fell back during the final round, with Mackenzie shooting an 80 to finish in third and Gardner carding 85 to fall to sixth. Anderson, however, posted a 72, the lowest round in U.S. Open history. His 303 total also established a new tournament record. Nicholls posted a 73 in the final round to finish in second place.
Golf course architecture
Simpson was the co-designer, along with his brother Archie, of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club course. He also assisted Old Tom Morris in a redesign of the links at Carnoustie.
Death and legacy
Simpson died in 1923 in Carnoustie, Scotland. He won the Western Open, considered to be a major tournament at the time, in 1907 and 1911. He was renowned for his fine hand-made "bulger" woods.
Professional wins (2)
Note: This list may be incomplete.