1938 U.S. Open Winner and Scores

The 1938 U.S. Open was the 42nd time the tournament was played. The champion won by six strokes to complete back-to-back wins in this major.

Winner: Ralph Guldahl, 284

Where it was played: Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

Tournament dates: June 9-11, 1938

Leader after first round: Henry Picard and Jimmy Hines, 70

Leader after second round: Henry Picard, 140

Leader after third round: Dick Metz, 211

What Happened in the 1938 U.S. Open

Ralph Guldahl isn't as well-remembered today as some of his contemproraries such as Nelson and Snead, but he was arguably the best golfer of the mid- and late 1930s. From 1934 through 1939 he won 12 times, including three consecutive Western Opens at a time when the Western was one of the biggest pro tournaments. And Guldahl also won back-to-back U.S. Opens, completing the double this year.

At the 1938 U.S. Open, defending champion Guldahl entered the final round trailing leader Dick Metz by four strokes. But Metz collapsed in the final round, shooting 79, while Guldahl had his best score (69) of the tournament. Guldahl wound up winning by six over Metz.

Guldahl was the fourth golfer to this point in tournament history to post back-to-back victories. Those who preceded him were Willie Anderson (1903-05), Johnny McDermott (1911-12) and Bobby Jones (1929-30).

Metz never won a major, but he is credited with 10 PGA Tour victories. And he posted numerous Top 10s in majors over a long period of time, 17 of them from 1935 through 1958.

A record was set at the 1938 U.S. Open, but it was one the holder would rather not have. Ray Ainsley recorded a score of 19 on the 16th hole of Cherry Hills Country Club, a par-4 hole, in the second round. That remains the highest single-hole score in U.S. Open history, and also one of the highest single-hole scores in PGA Tour history.

Cherry Hills CC is near Denver, Colorado, and this was the first time the U.S. Open was played at a golf course west of the Mississippi River.

1938 U.S. Open Final Scores

Ralph Guldahl 74-70-71-69—284
Dick Metz 73-68-70-79—290
Harry Cooper 76-69-76-71—292
Toney Penna 78-72-74-68—292
Byron Nelson 77-71-74-72—294
Emery Zimmerman 72-71-73-78—294
Frank Moore 79-73-72-71—295
Henry Picard 70-70-77-78—295
Paul Runyan 78-71-72-74—295
Gene Sarazen 74-74-75-73—296
Vic Ghezzi 79-71-75-72—297
Jimmy Hines 70-75-69-83—297
Denny Shute 77-71-72-77—297
George Von Elm 78-72-71-76—297
Willie Hunter Jr. 73-72-78-75—298
Olin Dutra 74-71-77-77—299
Jug McSpaden 76-67-74-82—299
Johnny Revolta 74-72-77-76—299
Jim Foulis 74-74-75-77—300
Horton Smith 80-73-73-74—300
Al Zimmerman 76-77-75-72—300
Charles Lacey 77-75-75-75—302
Tommy Armour 78-70-75-80—303
Al Huske 76-79-76-73—304
Johnny Rogers 71-76-73-84—304
Charles Sheppard 79-73-74-79—305
Joe Belfore 75-73-80-78—306
Stanley Kertes 77-72-82-75—306
Alvin Krueger 79-69-79-79—306
Ray Mangrum 77-77-73-79—306
Mike Turnesa 75-79-75-78—307
Vernon Allen 81-74-75-78—308
Art Bell 78-77-78-75—308
Neil Christian 75-80-79-74—308
Willie Macfarlane 79-73-78-78—308
Jimmy Thomson 82-70-77-79—308
Frank Walsh 75-77-80-76—308
Lawson Little 78-77-78-76—309
Levi Lynch 74-74-81-80—309
Sam Snead 77-76-76-80—309
Al Brosch 76-77-77-80—310
a-Art Doering 75-77-80-78—310
Willie Goggin 79-75-78-78—310
Bob Stupple 78-74-81-77—310
a-Wilford Wehrle 74-76-81-80—311
Bobby Cruickshank 83-71-73-85—312
Alex Follmer 74-76-81-81—312
Tony Manero 74-80-81-78—313
Mortie Dutra 78-74-85-77—314
a-Dick Chapman 74-77-83-81—315
Ed Dudley 77-77-78-83—315
Mike Murra 81-71-78-85—315
Herb Bowers 77-74-80-87—318
a-Ted Adams 74-80-86-81—321
a-Bob Babbish 78-75-86-83—322

Previous and next:
1937 U.S. Open - 1939 U.S. Open

Popular posts from this blog

2026 Masters Tournament Dates and Schedule