On the 6 June, 1901, James Braid, won the 41^st Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club, Scotland, the first of five Open Championship victories, three strokes ahead of runner-up Harry Vardon of Jersey.

All the entrants played 36 holes on the first day of the Championship, with those within 19 strokes of the leader deemed to have made the cut, and eligible to play 36 holes on the final day, with the provision that the final day’s field had to contain at least 32 professionals.

Vardon led after the first round with a 77, and followed up with a 78, and was joined on 155 by Braid. After the third round, Braid was five shots clear of Vardon and, holding a clear lead, played a cautious final round of 80. J.H.Taylor finished 3rd with the English amateur Harold Hilton a further 7 strokes behind.

James Braid (1870^–1950) was a Scottish professional golfer, and a member of the Great Triumvirate together with Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor. He also was a renowned golf course architect.

Born in Earlsferry, Fife, Braid played golf from an early age, and worked as a club-maker before turning professional in 1896.

He won The Open Championship in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1910, and was runner-up in 1897, 1902, 1904, and 1909. In addition, Braid won four British PGA Matchplay Championships, as well as the 1910 French Open title.

Braid became the full-time club professional at the Walton Heath GC in Surrey, founded in 1903, from 1904-1950.

He died in London in 1950.