1866 British Open Tournament Results
Winner: Willie Park Sr., 169
Where it was played: Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire, Scotland
Tournament dates: Sept. 16, 1866
Leader after first round: Willie Park Sr., 54
Leader after second round: Willie Park Sr., 110
What Happened in the 1866 Open Championship
Willie Park Sr. was the winner of the 1866 British Open, his third victory in the Open. This was the seventh British Open played, and Park and Old Tom Morris won six of those first seven, three each. Andrew Strath, in 1865, was the only interloper.But Strath, the defending champion, finished sixth this year, 13 strokes behind Park. And Old Tom was fourth, nine shots back.
Sixteen golfers entered and 12 completed the three trips around Prestwick's 12-hole links. Every one of the 12 golfers who completed the tournament was from Scotland.
Park had the best scores in both the first and second rounds to open a 5-stroke lead. He wound up winning by two strokes over his brother, David Park.
Like at most early Opens, the 1866 Open included multiple family members. Old Tom's son, 15-year-old Tommy Morris Jr. (a k a Young Tom Morris) played in his second Open and finished ninth.
Willie Park Sr. went on to win one more British Open in 1875. His previous wins were in 1860 and 1863. Another of Park's brothers, Mungo Park, won the 1874 Open. And Park's son Willie Park Jr. won the British Opens of 1887 and 1889.
Final Scores
| Willie Park Sr. | 54-56-59—169 |
| David Park | 58-57-56—171 |
| Robert Andrew | 58-59-59—176 |
| Tom Morris Sr. | 61-58-59—178 |
| Bob Kirk | 60-62-58—180 |
| Andrew Strath | 61-61-60—182 |
| John Allan | 60-63-60—183 |
| a-William Doleman | 60-60-63—183 |
| Tom Morris Jr. | 63-60-64—187 |
| Willie Dunn Sr. | 64-63-62—189 |
| Tom Hood | 61-69-61—191 |
| James Hutchison | 62-67-69—198 |
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