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Bob Martin

Scotland · born c.1853, Cupar, Scotland · died

2major championships

Summary

  • First major 1876 The Open
  • Last major 1885 The Open
  • Runner-up in majors 2 times

Wins

  1. 1876 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 176 · won a playoff against Davie Strath
  2. 1885 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 171 · by 1 stroke from Archie Simpson

Near misses

  1. 1873 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T9 · 194
  2. 1874 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished 4 · 164
  3. 1875 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · runner-up to Willie Park Sr · 168
  4. 1878 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished T4 · 165
  5. 1881 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 4 · 178
  6. 1882 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T3 · 175
  7. 1887 The Open Prestwick Golf Club · runner-up to Willie Park Jr · 162

Rivals

Beat him

Beaten in finals and playoffs

Davie StrathLost a playoff to Bob Martin, 1876 Open

Next in the chain: Willie Park Sr's rivals →

Moments

  1. 1876 Open At the 14th, Strath's shot struck an upholsterer named Hutton on the head, and at the 17th his approach hit a player putting on the green.
  2. 1876 Open Martin was declared champion after walking the course alone, because Strath would not play until the protest was decided.
  3. 1885 Open David Ayton took 11 at the 17th after twice playing from the road behind the green, and finished two behind.
  4. 1885 Open Martin became the first player to win two Opens at St Andrews.

Results by championship

    Best day

    1885 The Open

    Old Course, St Andrews · 171 · by 1 stroke from Archie Simpson

    David Ayton took 11 at the 17th after twice playing from the road behind the green, and finished two behind.

    Martin became the first player to win two Opens at St Andrews.

    Chosen by rule: his widest winning margin in a major. Year page: 1885.

    Career line, 1873–1887

    The Open
    1873 The Open: finished T91874 The Open: finished 41875 The Open: runner-up to Willie Park Sr1876 The Open: won1878 The Open: finished T41881 The Open: finished 41882 The Open: finished T31885 The Open: won1887 The Open: runner-up to Willie Park Jr
    187518801885

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

    • Major win
    • Runner-up
    • Top 10

    Bob Martin was born c.1853 in Cupar, Scotland. Martin won 2 major championships: 2 Open Championships (1876, 1885).

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

    Cards you pull this visit stack here. Tap one to go back to it.

    The record

    Wins in the majors (2)

    1. 1876 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 176 · won a playoff against Davie Strath (walkover: Martin walked the course alone)
    2. 1885 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · 171 · by 1 stroke from Archie Simpson

    Near misses

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

    1. 1873 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T9 · 194
    2. 1874 The Open Musselburgh Links (9-hole) · finished 4 · 164
    3. 1875 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · runner-up to Willie Park Sr · 168
    4. 1878 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished T4 · 165
    5. 1881 The Open Prestwick Golf Club (12-hole links) · finished 4 · 178
    6. 1882 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T3 · 175
    7. 1887 The Open Prestwick Golf Club · runner-up to Willie Park Jr · 162

    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.

    1. Golf Compendium
    2. R&A player
    3. R&A 1876
    4. GC 1876
    5. R&A 1885
    6. GC 1885
    7. R&A 1873
    8. R&A 1874
    9. R&A 1878
    10. R&A 1881
    11. R&A 1882
    12. Golf Compendium 1882