fbpx
Archie Compston

Captured on film: April 27, 1928 (Archie Compston)

Walter Hagen gets a hiding at Moor Park in 1928
 

Archie Compston – THE BACKGROUND

The 1920s might have been considered a golden age for boxing but, on the golf course, but Archie Compston clash with Walter Hagen packed just as many punches.

The Haig was a stellar matchplay exponent and had won his fourth consecutive PGA Championship – then played as a knockout – the previous year. Compston was no slouch when it came to one-on-one golf combat. The Englishman had twice won the British PGA Matchplay Championship before his head-to-head dual with Hagen.

THE SCENE

Moor Park, in Hertfordshire, was packed with spectators for this 72-hole clash. Hagen only arrived 48 hours before and was reported to have taken the winter off from practice. It was billed as an unofficial ‘bout’ to decide the matchplay champion of the world.

The flashy Hagen was perhaps overconfident. He had won 29 straight matchplay contests at the PGA. Stateside journalists following the match were said to be cabling the results to New York “hole-by-hole”.

THE MOMENT

Hagen was out-classed from the start and fell to a remarkable 18&17 defeat. Fourteen up after 36 holes, Compston had equalled and then broke the course record with two rounds of 67 and 66. Following his loss, the heaviest of his career, Hagen said: “I am the victim of the finest golf player anywhere.” But Compston’s joy was shortlived. When the two met again at the Open, at Royal St George’s, he had to settle for third as Hagen walked off with the Claret Jug by two strokes.

Latest Posts

dp world tour 2024 schedule

DP World Tour

DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results

Read full article - DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results
liv golf schedule 2024

LIV Golf

LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result

Read full article - LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result
players championship field 2024

News

Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?

Read full article - Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?

Read full article - How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?
pga championship field

News

World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?

Read full article - World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

Read full article - Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
rory mcilroy talor gooch

News

Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!

Read full article - Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!
viktor hovland prize money

News

Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf

Read full article - Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf
talor gooch

LIV Golf

‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim

Read full article - ‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim