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1907-Arnaud-Massy-Open-Champion-Royal-Liverpool
1907-Arnaud-Massy-Open-Champion-Royal-Liverpool

Arnaud Massy

Arnaud Massy was the first overseas winner of The Open at Royal Liverpool in 1907. He remains the only Frenchman to win the Claret Jug and no one from continental Europe won again until Seve Ballesteros in 1979. 
  • He won the first French Open played at a Paris course

    Did you know?

  • 17

    Professional wins

  • Worked as a pro at courses in England, France and Morocco

    Fun fact

Arnaud Massy was the first overseas winner of The Open at Royal Liverpool in 1907.

He remains the only Frenchman to win the Claret Jug and no one from continental Europe won again until Seve Ballesteros in 1979. Massy was a pioneer for the game in his home country.

He was born in Biarritz and started as a caddie, while the only clubs he could find to play with were left-handed. As a 21-year-old he moved to North Berwick where he married and practised hard, switching himself round to play right-handed.

He was the first ever winner of each of the French, Belgium and Spanish Opens. He won his national title four times, lastly as a 48-year-old and his third Spanish Open came three years later. He was described as holding himself like a Grenadier and playing with a “ferocious gaiety”.

He was a fine player in the wind which served him well at Hoylake in 1907 when he came from a stroke behind JH Taylor to win by two. Massy was a popular player and his victory was appreciated by public and fellow players alike.

Four years later at Royal St George’s, when he hoped the wind would blow hard enough to uproot all the trees in Sandwich, he got blown away by the brilliance of Harry Vardon.

Massy was trailing by ten strokes when he conceded on the 35th hole of their play-off, sighing: “I cannot play this damn game.” He fought in WWI and later became the professional at Chantaco.

One of his three daughters born to his Scottish-born wife during the 1907 Open was named Margot Hoylake in honour of the victory. After his death in France in 1950, he was buried in Newington Cemetery in Edinburgh, alongside his wife and Margot Hoylake.

Venue
Finish
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
Par
Royal Liverpool 1930
M/C
78
81
-
-
-
M/C
Muirfield 1929
M/C
81
77
-
-
-
M/C
Royal St George's 1928
41
79
79
79
79
316
-
Prestwick 1925
Wd
80
86
-
-
-
M/C
Royal Liverpool 1924
Wd
78
87
-
-
-
M/C
Royal St George's 1922
Wd
83
85
-
-
-
M/C
St Andrews 1921
6
74
75
74
79
302
-
Royal Cinque Ports 1920
29
81
82
80
81
324
-
Prestwick 1914
10
77
82
75
82
316
-
Royal Liverpool 1913
7
77
80
81
79
317
-
Muirfield 1912
10
74
77
82
78
311
-
Royal St George's 1911
2
75
78
74
76
303
-
St Andrews 1910
22
78
77
81
79
315
-
Royal Cinque Ports 1909
35
76
84
80
79
319
-
Prestwick 1908
9
76
75
76
81
308
-
Royal Liverpool 1907
1
76
81
78
77
312
-
Muirfield 1906
6
76
80
76
78
310
-
St Andrews 1905
5
81
80
82
82
325
-
Royal St George's 1904
Wd
83
85
-
-
-
M/C
Prestwick 1903
37
81
84
77
86
328
-
Royal Liverpool 1902
10
77
81
78
84
320
-

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