Willie Anderson, the King of the US Open

Since Brooks is attempting to fit the record of the outstanding Scottish player Willie Anderson, I idea it is probably fine to provide you a chunk approximately him -- particularly, about his swing.

I discovered this text written by author Douglas Seaton for the North Berwick Hall of Fame in Scotland. It consists of a quick description of his swing -- and the way it regarded to fit Anderson -- and I observed it very interesting.

Anderson's accuracy changed into legendary especially with his preferred membership the mashie, equivalent to the modern 5 iron. He had a swing as flat as his nose and neither his recreation nor his facial functions were flattering or classical. He appeared extra like a median middleweight boxer than a unique golfer. He had bulging forearms and wide, muscular shoulders, a body greater suitable for wearing baggage of coal from door to door as opposed to a golfing bag from direction to path.

Willie's unhurried move through the ball disguised effortless power and he was also a rhythmical putter but his main attribute was his unflappable demeanour. Described as a dour man who attended strictly to business and displayed little sense of humour on the course but he was a mixer off the course and popular with his fellow professionals. Golfers during Anderson's time essentially wore clothes formal enough to attend church in but not Willie Anderson. His typical attire was a tartan wool cap pulled low (to camouflage his large ears), baggy plaid trousers, a plain shirt, a cloth neckerchief (instead of a silk tie), and an old tweed jacket. I love that description of his swing being "as flat as his nose."

As you can see on this Wikipedia photograph from 1909, the 12 months earlier than he died, Anderson became indeed a very muscular player. Despite that, Seaton notes that Anderson had an unhurried flow -- no violent lashing on the ball -- and had a rhythmic putting stroke.

He sounds very similar to the descriptions I've study of Ben Hogan on the path -- very a good deal an intense, even grumpy-looking fellow who kept to himself and centered on his personal game, reputedly oblivious to the ones around him. However Seaton says he become a totally social person off the course and really popular with the alternative gamers, possibly in component due to the fact he changed into willing to buy the beverages.

Ironically, although he doesn't appear to have been a party animal himself, Anderson died at the younger age of 31 from arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which is commonly notion of as an old character's disorder.

Although he's formally credited with 4 majors -- all US Opens, received in 1901 and the three-peat in 1903-1905 -- Anderson also gained four Western Opens (the modern-day BMW Championship) which have been taken into consideration majors on the time.

To end out, here are some thrilling statistics:

• Anderson is the only man to win three consecutive US Opens.
• Only Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have matched his four US Open titles.
• And he's the only man to win the US Open playing both gutta percha and rubber core golf balls.

This is the legend that Brooks Koepka is chasing this week. If he can catch him, Brooks will certainly inscribe his name in the history books and be well on the way to becoming a legend himself.