James Braid was one of the famous ‘Great Triumvirate’ of golf, winning a record five Open Championships between 1901 and 1910.

Along with fellow fairway legends Harry Vardon and JH Taylor, the Fife-born sportsman was one of three players who dominated the sport before World War I.

James played golf from an early age, working as a joiner in St Andrews before moving to England in 1893 to become a club maker and turning professional three years later.

After overcoming early problems on the green by switching to an aluminium putter, he won the Open Championship in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1910. Other triumphs included four British PGA Matchplay Championships and the 1910 French Open title.

Away from the bag, James took an equally keen interest in golf behind the scenes, becoming one of the founders, and later president, of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA).

He also became a distinguished course designer, gaining a reputation for creating well laid-out courses and credited with inventing the dogleg. Among his designs are the King's Course and Queen's Course at Gleneagles, and the 1926 remodelling of Carnoustie.

The course at Stranraer Golf Club was the last to be designed by James before he died in 1950. He was later inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

 

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