1930: Bobby Jones wins the U.S. Open completing the 3rd leg of the “Grand Slam”

It was on this day, 89 years ago when Bobby Jones captured his second consecutive U.S. Open title on his way to completing the “Grand Slam.”

Bobby Jones continues his grand year at Interlachen

The setting was Interlachen Country Club located in Edina, Minnesota. Jones had already won the British Amateur and the British Open that year, and continued his run by winning at Interlachen by two strokes over Macdonald Smith. He completed his unprecedented Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Amateur later in the year.

After shooting a masterful 68 in the third round, the tournament seemed to be over as Bobby was up by five strokes over Harry Cooper. In the final round, Jones made it interesting, making double bogeys on three par-3 holes, including No. 17.

Although making blemishes on those par 3’s he followed each one up with a birdie to recover.

At the final hole, Jones left his approach shot 40 feet away for birdie. “As I stepped up to the putt, I confess that my most optimistic expectation was to get the thing close,” Jones later wrote.

He did one better, holing the putt to earn a two-stroke victory over Macdonald Smith. Ten weeks later, he won the U.S. Amateur at Merion to finish the “Slam.”

Trivia

• The emotional and physical strain and extreme heat caused Jones to lose 17 pounds during the week.
• George Sargent, who won the 1909 U.S. Open and was later president of the PGA of America, was the head professional at Interlachen CC for a few years.
• Interlachen CC was scheduled to host the 1942 U.S. Open, but the event was canceled after the outbreak of World War II.