Willie Park Sr of Musselburgh (1833-1903) was one of the leading professionals of his generation, along with Tom Morris Sr and Allan Robertson. Indeed, he and Morris were rivals for thirty years. Their first golfing encounter came about in October 1854 when Park, in St Andrews during the Autumn Meeting, challenged Robertson and Morris to a match. Neither responded and it was left to Morris’ elder brother George to take up the challenge. George was utterly defeated, leading Robertson to remark, “he frichtens us a’ wi’ his lang driving”.
Perhaps in an attempt to save face, Tom Morris agreed to a two-round match against Park at £50-a-side the following day. By then, though based at Prestwick, Tom was still regarded as a son of St Andrews and his match against Park caused much excitement. The honour of the town was at stake, St Andrews and Musselburgh vying for golfing supremacy.
The first round was halved, but Park won the second by five holes with four to play and consequently the match. The following day, in a one-round match, Tom Morris had the satisfaction of gaining his first win against Willie Park.
In the inaugural Open at Prestwick in 1860, many expected Tom to win, but it was Willie who gained that honour, becoming the first to wear the leather and silver Challenge Belt. Morris was runner up.
In the first four years of the Championship, Park and Morris each won twice and each took runner-up spot twice. Park won The Open four times in total, in 1860, 63, 66 and 75.
His portrait is vast, measuring over eight feet high by six feet wide. It was completed in 1890, when Park was 56 years old.