16 Oct 1947: Great Britain’s Ryder Cup golf team: (back row l-r) E Green, A Lees, SL King, Max … More
Englishman Max Faulkner won the 1951 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, finishing two strokes ahead of the field with a total score of 285.
It marked the first time Royal Portrush hosted the Open Championship and the first time the event was held outside the island of Great Britain (England and Scotland), making its debut in Northern Ireland.
“It was all I ever wanted. The Open meant everything to me,” said Faulkner of his historic victory.
Faulkner shot rounds of 71-70-70-74 to edge out a surging Antonio Cerdá. The course proved a tough test for the professionals, with just two rounds in the 60s recorded both 68s in the opening round. First-round leaders Jimmy Adams and Norman Von Nida (corrected from “Van Nina”) faltered in the second round, each shooting 77.
Faulkner was steady over the four days and entered the final round with a six-stroke lead. It’s rumored he was signing autographs the night before the final round as “Max Faulkner Open Champion.”
Crowd watch Max Faulkner putting at the Irish Open Golf 08/07/1948 (Part of the Independent … More
Faulkner had prior success at Royal Portrush, having finished third in the 1947 Irish Open. Interestingly, he also held a two-stroke lead entering the final round of that tournament, but it was Harry Bradshaw who ultimately claimed the title.
Max was the son of Gus Faulkner, a protégé of famed Open Champion James Braid and head professional at Bramley Golf Club. Max began playing competitive golf at age 17 and reached the round of 16 at the Daily Mirror Assistants’ Tournament. However, World War II interrupted his early career. During the war, he served in the RAF as a Physical Training Instructor.
After the war, Faulkner won his first tournament in 1946 at the Dunlop Southport Tournament by one stroke over Norman Von Nida. He went on to win three tournaments in 1949.
Known for his eccentric approach to equipment, Faulkner was believed to own over 300 putters in his lifelong search for the perfect one. He rarely used a conventional set of clubs, often carrying multiple versions of the same club with different shaft lengths and flexes. His reputation as a master shotmaker was well-earned, he could shape shots even with short irons, curving the ball through the air with remarkable control.