Mungo Park

Mungo Park was the brother of Willie Park Snr, who won The Open four times, and David Park, who played in The Open several times.

He was also the uncle of Wille Park Jnr, a two-time Champion. Mungo was a sailor who spent much of his early life at sea although on his return he soon showed that he had many of the family’s golfing genes.

He had a strong swing and, like his older brother and nephew, was a fine, bold putter. The family lived by the motto, “never up, never in”. He won The Open in 1874 on his debut, something only his brother, in the inaugural Open in 1860, and Tom Kidd, the year before at St Andrews, had achieved.

Musselburgh was hosting The Open for the first time and it was appropriate that a member of a prominent golfing family from the town should be the Champion, even if his brother was the sentimental favourite.

An opening 75 was eight strokes better than Willie Park or Young Tom Morris could manage. Although Young Tom rallied in the second 18 holes, Mungo hung on for a two-stroke victory over the four-time Champion, and he finished 11 strokes ahead of Willie.

A year later, however, at Prestwick, Willie won for a fourth time, with Mungo finishing third. He was also fourth in 1876 but did not threaten to win again after that. He played in many challenge matches alongside his brother, often very great success even against the Morrises.