The best golfer from every U.S. state

Massachusetts: Francis Ouimet

The story of Francis Ouimet is truly one of the most remarkable in the history of golf. Perhaps that’s why Disney thought it a good idea to immortalize the Brookline, MA native’s most famous moment in the film The Greatest Game Ever Played starring Shia LaBoeuf as Ouimet.

Born to a poorer family in a time when golf in the United States was largely reserved for the upper classes, Ouimet started caddying in his younger years and taught himself how to play the game. He must have been one hell of a teacher, because his ability soon made him one of the best high school golfers in the state.

Eventually, Ouimet would go on to win the Massachusetts Amateur championship in early 1913 before falling short in the U.S. Amateur. However, that year’s U.S. Open had been moved back to the fall with the intention of adding two of the sport’s biggest names at the time, Ted Ray and Harry Vardon, to the tournament. With the tournament being played in Brookline, Ouimet was invited and ultimately — after working out a way with his employer to get more time off of work — was able to compete.

He did more than that as he force an 18-hole playoff between the three men and bested them by five strokes to win in said playoff. Ouimet’s career wasn’t done there as he was able to win the U.S. Amateur twice, once in 1914 and later in 1931, and became a golfing celebrity known nationwide.