Who was Tom Morris? All you need to know about the Grand Old Man of Golf immortalized by a statue at St Andrews

On Wednesday, October 2, a statue of Tom Morris was unveiled at the Old Course in tribute to the "Grand Old Man of Golf." The ceremony took place at St. Andrews ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Tom Morris was born on June 16, 1821, in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, to John and Jean Morris. He was the sixth of seven children in a weaver's family. He began playing golf at the age of 10, using wine bottle corks as balls and a homemade club.

At the age of 14, Morris began caddying and started working as a trainee under Allan Robertson, who is considered the world’s first professional golfer. Robertson managed the St. Andrews Links and also owned an equipment-manufacturing business. Morris apprenticed for four years before working as a journeyman for five more years.

However, Morris was fired in 1848 when Robertson discovered him playing with the new gutta-percha golf ball, which Robertson saw as a threat to his business. In 1851, Morris joined the newly formed Prestwick Golf Club, where he designed the course and ran his own equipment business. He also played a major role in the establishment of the Open Championship in 1860 and hit the first shot of the inaugural event.

In 1864, Morris was rehired by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club after a formal motion was passed. He joined as the Keeper of the Green and professional at a salary of £50.

At that time, St. Andrews Links was in poor condition, and Morris rejuvenated it by making several improvements. He widened the fairways, expanded the greens, and applied greenkeeping techniques he had learned at Prestwick. He built two new greens on Hole 1 and Hole 18 and managed the hazards.

Morris continued working until his death. The golf legend passed away on May 24, 1908, after falling down a flight of stairs in the clubhouse of The New Golf Club in St. Andrews.

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How did Tom Morris perform as a golfer?

While working with Allan Robertson, Tom Morris soon became highly skilled in golf. Both played in many challenge matches and were unbeatable as a team. Morris once beat Robertson in an informal match in 1843 but rarely played against him, as he felt awkward competing against his employer.

Morris finished as the runner-up in the inaugural Open Championship but won the following year, defeating Willie Park Sr. by four strokes. He successfully defended the title in 1862, once again beating Park Sr., this time by a staggering 13 strokes. This remained the largest winning margin in a Major championship until Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 shots.

Tom Morris went on to win the Open Championship two more times. In 1867, he became the oldest winner of the tournament, a record that still stands today.