Bob Ferguson

Scotland · born c.1846, Musselburgh, Scotland · died May 19, 1915

3major championships

The Open3 wins, 1 2nd, 6 top 10s

Summary

First major 1880 The Open
Last major 1882 The Open
Runner-up in majors 1 time

Wins

1880 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · 162 · by 5 strokes from Peter Paxton
1881 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · 170 · by 3 strokes from Jamie Anderson
1882 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 171 · by 3 strokes from Willie Fernie

Near misses

1868 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 5 · 165
1874 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T8 · 167
1875 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 4 · 172
1877 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T3 · 164
1879 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished 6 · 176
1883 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · runner-up to Willie Fernie · 158 · lost playoff
1886 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T4 · 161

Rivals

Beat him

Next in the chain: Willie Fernie's rivals →

Moments

1880 Open Ferguson took 8 at the 2nd after his ball came off the road and rebounded off a telegraph pole.
1880 Open The date was announced at short notice and three-time defending champion Jamie Anderson did not play.
1881 Open An October storm of gale-force wind, rain, sleet and snow struck that day, when almost 200 fishermen were lost at sea.
1881 Open Play started 90 minutes late while markers were found, and only eight of the 22 starters finished.
1882 Open Ferguson's opening 83 was three strokes better than anyone else managed in either round.
1882 Open The win completed Ferguson's hat-trick (1880-82).

Results by championship

Best day

1880 The Open

Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · 162 · by 5 strokes from Peter Paxton

Ferguson took 8 at the 2nd after his ball came off the road and rebounded off a telegraph pole.

The date was announced at short notice and three-time defending champion Jamie Anderson did not play.

Chosen by rule: his widest winning margin in a major. Year page: 1880.

Career line, 1868–1886

The Open

1868 The Open: finished 5 1874 The Open: finished T8 1875 The Open: finished 4 1877 The Open: finished T3 1879 The Open: finished 6 1880 The Open: won 1881 The Open: won 1882 The Open: won 1883 The Open: runner-up to Willie Fernie 1886 The Open: finished T4

1870187518801885

10 results. Hover or tap a mark; click it for the year.

Major win
Runner-up
Top 10

Bob Ferguson was born c.1846 in Musselburgh, Scotland. Ferguson won 3 major championships: 3 Open Championships (1880, 1881, 1882).

See Bob Ferguson in our rooms: The Open and Every Ground.

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The record

Wins in the majors (3)

1880 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · 162 · by 5 strokes from Peter Paxton
1881 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · 170 · by 3 strokes from Jamie Anderson
1882 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 171 · by 3 strokes from Willie Fernie

Near misses

Top-10 finishes are listed for The Open, the one championship with a full top 10 every year.

1868 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 5 · 165
1874 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T8 · 167
1875 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 4 · 172
1877 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T3 · 164
1879 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished 6 · 176
1883 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · runner-up to Willie Fernie · 158 · lost playoff
1886 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished T4 · 161

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from Golf Network News data sets compiled in October 2026 (Masters, PGA Championship, The Open, U.S. Women's Open, Ryder Cup, PGA Tour 2024–2026, major host sites, Champions Dinner menus, and the U.S. Open and state rooms). These are the sources those rows cite.