Francis Ouimet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis Ouimet |
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Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Francis DeSales Ouimet |
| Born | May 8, 1893 Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Died | September 2, 1967 (aged 74) Newton, Massachusetts |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse |
Stella Sullivan
(m. 1918–1965) |
| Children | Janice, Barbara |
| Career | |
| Status | Amateur |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 2 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 3) |
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| The Masters Tournament | WD: 1941 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 1913 |
| The Open Championship | T56: 1914 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | Won: 1914, 1931 |
| British Amateur | T3: 1923 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1974 |
| Bob Jones Award | 1955 |
Francis DeSales Ouimet (born May 8, 1893 – died September 2, 1967) was an American golfer. He played golf for fun, not as a job. Many people call him the "father of amateur golf" in the United States.
He became famous for winning the U.S. Open in 1913. He was also the first non-British person to be chosen as the leader of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, a very old and important golf club in Scotland. In 1974, he was added to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Francis Ouimet was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a town near Boston. His family was not wealthy. They lived right across from the 17th hole of The Country Club, a famous golf course.
When Francis was young, golf was mostly for rich people. Professional golfers were often former caddies who played for money. But rules said caddies couldn't stay amateur players if they kept caddying after age 16.
Francis became interested in golf when he was very young. At age 11, he started working as a caddie at The Country Club. He taught himself to play golf using his brother's old clubs and golf balls he found. Soon, he became the best high school golfer in Massachusetts.
When he was in high school, his father wanted him to quit school and get a "useful" job. Francis worked in a store before getting a job at a sporting goods store. This store was owned by George Wright, who later became famous in baseball.
Francis Ouimet's Golf Career
The Amazing 1913 U.S. Open Win
In 1913, when Francis was 20, he won his first big golf title, the Massachusetts Amateur. He won this event five more times later on.
Later that year, the president of the United States Golf Association asked him to play in the 1913 U.S. Open. This big tournament was held at The Country Club, the course Francis knew so well. Two famous British golfers, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, were also playing. They were considered the best golfers in the world.
Francis decided to play, even though he had just returned from another tournament. His caddie for the U.S. Open was a 10-year-old boy named Eddie Lowery. After 72 holes of golf, Francis, Vardon, and Ray were all tied! They had to play an extra 18 holes the next day in the rain.
Francis Ouimet won the playoff, beating Vardon by 5 strokes and Ray by 6. This was a huge surprise! He was the first amateur golfer ever to win the U.S. Open. Huge crowds watched the playoff, and his victory was big news all over the country.
How Ouimet Changed Golf
Francis Ouimet's win helped make golf popular in America. Before his victory, British players mostly dominated the sport. Also, golf was mainly played at private clubs. There were very few public golf courses.
After his 1913 win, many more Americans started playing golf. The number of players tripled in ten years! Many new golf courses were built, including lots of public ones that anyone could use.
In 1963, a TV station interviewed Francis Ouimet to celebrate 50 years since his big win. This interview was later included in the DVD of the Disney movie The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Later Golf Achievements
Francis Ouimet continued to be a great golfer. He won the U.S. Amateur championship two more times, in 1914 and 1931.
He also played on the first eight Walker Cup teams for the United States. The Walker Cup is a team golf competition between amateur golfers from the United States and Great Britain/Ireland. He was also the captain for four more Walker Cup teams. His teams won 11 out of 12 times!
In 1951, he became the first non-British person to be chosen as the Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland. In 1955, he received the Bob Jones Award, which is the highest honor given by the USGA for good sportsmanship in golf.
Francis Ouimet is in many golf halls of fame. There is even a room named after him at the USGA Museum. He also helped and encouraged a young golfer named Gene Sarazen, who became one of golf's greatest champions.
Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
In 1949, some of Francis Ouimet's friends started a special scholarship in his name. It's called the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. This scholarship helps young people who have worked in golf in Massachusetts, like caddies, get money for college.
The first group of students received $4,600 in total. Since then, over 6,300 students have received more than $43 million to help pay for college. Today, young people who have worked for at least two years in golf in Massachusetts can apply. This includes caddies, pro shop workers, and course maintenance staff.
The Ouimet Fund is one of the biggest "caddie" scholarships in the U.S. Students go through a careful application and interview process. If chosen, they can attend almost any college or university they wish. The scholarship amounts can range from a few thousand dollars to over $80,000 for four years.
The Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf is given out every year. Famous golfers like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Annika Sörenstam have received this award.
Francis Ouimet in Pop Culture
In 1988, a special 25-cent postage stamp was made to honor Francis Ouimet.
In 2002, a book called The Greatest Game Ever Played was written about Francis Ouimet's U.S. Open victory. Later, Walt Disney Studios made it into a movie with the same name. The movie, released in 2005, starred Shia LaBeouf as Francis Ouimet.
The cover of the book shows a famous photo of Ouimet with his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery. This picture is very well-known in American golf. Statues of Ouimet and Lowery, based on this photo, can be found in Brookline, Massachusetts, and at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
There's even a street named after Ouimet in Johannesburg, South Africa!
Personal Life
Francis Ouimet wanted to be a businessman. He knew that being a professional golfer at that time wouldn't help him reach that goal. Within ten years of his U.S. Open win, he started working as a banker and later a stockbroker. He ended his business career as a financial advisor.
He served in the US Army during the First World War.
Francis Ouimet married Stella M. Sullivan in 1918. They had two daughters, Janice and Barbara. He passed away in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1967, at the age of 74.
Images for kids
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Playoff participants Harry Vardon, Ouimet, and Ted Ray
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Ouimet celebrating his victory with Eddie Lowery, his 10-year-old caddie with a white towel over his shoulders
