Fantastic Old Tom Morris signed photo dated 1903
For Sale: £12,000
Thomas Mitchell Morris (1821 - 1908) otherwise known as Old Tom Morris, was a Scottish golfer.
Morris was a pioneer of the game, and is widely regarded as "the father of golf".
Morris won the Open Championship four times, and struck the first ball at the first Open, in 1860 – a tournament he helped found. He remains the oldest winner of the Open (46) and his winning margin at the 1862 Open of 13 strokes remained a Major record until beaten by Tiger Woods (15) at the 2000 US Open.
Yet it is his achievements away from competition that many today regard as his greatest.
Because Morris is responsible for creating the game of golf we know today. As greenkeeper and professional, Morris transformed St Andrews from a primitive course to the stunning "home of golf" we know today, in doing so, transforming the standard for golf courses. Much of his best work can be seen on the greens, which were originally little more than what modern golfers would deem "rough". Continual weeding, sanding, rolling and mowing created the luxurious putting surfaces we see today.
In addition to revolutionary golf course design, many of his pioneering ideas have set the benchmark for today's game, including 18 holes as standard, tee boxes, metal rings in the holes, and active care of bunkers.
He designed or redesigned more than 60 courses in addition to St Andrews, including the famous Muirfield, Carnoustie and Royal Dornoch.
Old Tom Morris was also the father of Young Tom Morris, one of the most dazzling golfing talents of the 19th Century.
The item
This is a superb black and white photo taken by James Patrick St Andrew, measuring 11" x 9¼" of Old Tom Morris on the links at St Andrews golf course, signed by Old Tom, and dated 1903. A tiny amount of fading to the signature but otherwise an incredibly well preserved 100-year-old photograph.
A major rarity. We have previously only handled one Old Tom Morris signed photo, measuring 6" x 4", which sold within hours of being offered at £4,000 in 1991!
The Holy Grail for the golf-collecting connoisseur.
