Hugh Kirkaldy
Professional golfer
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Biography
Hugh Kirkaldy (5 June 1868 – 4 April 1897) was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. He won the 1891 Open Championship.
Early life
Kirkaldy was born on 5 June 1868 at St Andrews, Scotland. His brothers, Andrew and Jack, were also professional golfers.
Golf career
1891 Open Championship
He won the 1891 Open Championship, which was played over the Old Course at St Andrews. The tournament was played in October, in rough weather, and his winning score was 166 for 36 holes. He beat his brother Andrew and Willie Fernie of Troon by two shots. It was the last Open Championship contested over 36 holes.
Death and legacy
On 4 April 1897, just six years after winning the 1891 Open Championship, he died of phthisis pulmonalis at the age of 28.
Results in major championships
An 1887 watercolor illustration depicting the golf swing of Kirkaldy by Thomas Hodge
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 18 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | 83-83=166 | 2 strokes | Willie Fernie, Andrew Kirkaldy |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | 37 | DNP | 19 | T11 | T10 | T7 | 1 | T2 | T4 | T13 | T15 |
- Note: The Open Championship was the only major in existence during Kirkaldy's lifetime.
DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10