John J. McDermott

To prove the point, Johnny McDermott won his second consecutive Open at the Country Club of Buffalo, N. Y., in August, and immediately behind him was that other homebred, Tom McNamara. McDermott's score was 74-75-74-71-294 and he needed it to stave off McNamara who closed with another 69 to trail by only two strokes. The rise of the homebreds stimulated such interest that it lifted the entry to 131, another record.

McDermott's total of 294 was two below par. He is now credited as being the first man to break par for 72 holes. The use of "par" came into official national usage in 1911 when the USGA defined it as "perfect play without flukes and under ordinary weather conditions, always allowing two strokes on each putting green".