Who is Francis Ouimet? US Open history of Greatest Game Ever Played

Francis Ouimet is a golf legend forever tied to the US Open at The Country Club at Brookline for the Greatest Game Ever Played. 

The 2022 US Open is headed to Brookline and The Country Club, one of the oldest and most historic courses in the United States, for the first time since 1988 and only the third time in the history of the event. And as such, you’re going to hear the name Francis Ouimet quite a bit.

Ouimet, who grew up in Brookline quite literally right across the street from the property of The Country Club in the late 1800s and early 1900s, is one of the icons of golf history.

But who exactly was he and why is he so important to the US Open and The Country Club? That’s a question definitely worth exploring.

Who was Francis Ouimet? Golf career, history

Francis Ouimet was born in Brookline, MA in 1893 and grew up in a house right across the street from The Country Club, the 17th hole to be exact. Despite golf being a wealthy man’s game at the time, he developed a love for the game early and began caddying at The Country Club at 11 years old, teaching himself to play and gaining attention from those around the course and club.

Despite persistence from his family to give up on golf, he continued to pursue an amateur career and eventually won the Massachusetts Amateur at age 20 in 1913. His success there and a deep run at the U.S. Amateur later in the year led to him being invited to play in the fortunately delayed US Open at The Country Club, the first time the event would be hosted by the club. He would go on to win the 1913 US Open (more on that in a bit).

Thereafter, he would become one of the most successful amateur golfers in American history, winning the U.S. Amateur twice and his upbringing and achievements helped to spread the game of golf in the United State in ways never seen before.

Additionally, he was the first Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews to not be British-born, participated in 12 Walker Cups, won 27 times overall and played in six US Opens, one Open Championship, and one Masters Tournament.

1913 US Open: What is the Greatest Game Ever Played?

The reason you’ll hear much about Ouimet at Brookline is because of his 1913 US Open victory at The Country Club. Often referred to as the Greatest Game Ever Played, it was the first time that an amateur had ever won the event and the 20-year-old Ouimet did so facing substantial odds.

Ouimet was able to enter the tournament after the USGA pulled strings to get him away from his job at a sporting goods store, to begin with. Furthermore, he benefitted in being able to play because the event was moved from the summer to September in order to allow British greats of the time, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, to travel stateside to play.

As if that weren’t enough, Ouimet came from behind after the first two rounds to tie Vardon and Ray atop the leaderboard after 54 holes. In the afternoon round, the final round of the tournament as they played two rounds per day at the time, they all shot a round of 79 to force a three-way playoff that Ouimet eventually won by five strokes in remarkable fashion.

Oh yeah, he also did this with 10-year-old Eddie Lowery, who would go on to become a substantial figure in his own right, as his caddy.

The incredible nature of the event inspired a 2002 Mark Frost book detailing the 1913 US Open, which was then made into the 2005 Disney film aptly titled The Greatest Game Ever Played in which Ouimet was portrayed by actor Shia Lebouf.

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