Play by the Rules!
3
Careful Where You Walk
The 1946 United States Open Championship was held at
Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio. After winning
a record eleven straight tournaments the prior season,
Byron Nelson entered the tournament as a favorite to win
his second U.S. Open title.
Trailing by two strokes after 36-holes, the third round
was a round that Nelson would never forget. Nelson shot
a round of three under-par 69 which vaulted him to sole
possession of the lead with only 18 holes to play. However,
an unfortunate rules situation prevented the lead from
being any larger.
On the 13th hole, Nelson had to fight through a large
gallery of spectators and marshals ropes with his caddie to
reach his ball next to the green. In the process of making
his way through the gallery, Nelson’s caddie accidentally
stepped on Nelson’s ball. This resulted in a one stroke
penalty for Byron, which would prove to be very costly.
Nelson went on to lead much of the final round, but a pair
of bogies on #17 and #18 resulted in a three-way playoff
between Nelson, Lloyd Mangrum and Victor Ghezzi.
Mangrum would go on to shoot a roun