Fred Herd

Who was Fred Herd?

Fred Herd was a Scottish professional golfer from St Andrews. In 1898 he won the fourth U.S. Open at Myopia Hunt Club, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. This was the first U.S. Open to be played over 72 holes, requiring the competitors to play eight rounds of Myopia's nine hole course. Herd was a professional at the Washington Park course in Chicago at this time. He won $150, but such was his reputation as a drinker that he was not allowed to take the U.S. Open trophy away until he had paid a deposit, as the USGA was worried that he might pawn it to buy drink.

Herd played in the U.S. Open on three other occasions, but did not have any other top ten finishes. His brother Sandy Herd, won The Open Championship in 1902.