Tom Morris Sr (1821 – 1908) was born in St Andrews in June 1821. He was apprenticed to Allan Robertson, with whom he worked for 11 years. He established his own business making clubs and balls before becoming custodian of Prestwick Links, a role he fulfilled for 14 years. Returning to St Andrews in 1864, he was employed by the R&A as Keeper of the Links, a position he held for a remarkable 40 years. Morris won The Open four times and, until the emergence of his son ‘Young Tom’, whom he survived by almost 30 years, was the best golfer of his day. He died in 1908.
The portrait was commissioned in the autumn of 1902. On seeing it for the first time, Morris is reported to have said, ‘you’ve got the checks on my bunnet a’ wrang’.