Ed Furgol

Ed Furgol, 37, of the Westwood Country Club, St. Louis, Mo., won a particularly significant victory over the Lower Course of the Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N. J. He had shattered his left elbow in childhood and his left arm was withered and crooked at the elbow. He scored 71-70-71-71-284, four over par, to finish one stroke ahead of Gene Littler, 23, the 1953 Amateur Champion who had turned professional and who led after 36 holes. There was a moment of drama on the last hole when Furgol pulled his drive deep into woods, pitched out onto the 18th Fairway of the Upper Course and made his par 5.

Littler later missed an eight-foot putt to tie. Ben Hogan seeking his fifth Open victory was tied for second with Furgol going into the final day, but he took 76 for his third round and finished in a tie for sixth at 289. Billy Joe Patton of Morgantown, N. C., an amateur, led on the first day with a 69, remained a threat throughout and also finished in the tie for sixth.

The event was a record-breaker: the entry reached 1,928, the gallery was 39,600, the largest ever, the play was televised nationally for the first time, every fairway was completely roped from tee to green for the first time in a USGA Championship, and prize money, increased by a 20% bonus, totalled $23,280 with the first professional prize $6,000.