Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Morris, Tom
MORRIS, TOM (1821–1908), golfer, second son of John Morris, a letter-carrier in St. Andrews, and Jean Bruce, a native of Anstruther, was born in North Street, St. Andrews, on 16 June 1821. An elder brother, George, was also an accomplished golfer and was said to have had 'a prettier style than Tom,' though not such a reliable player. Tom received a good elementary education at the Madras College, St. Andrews. He began to play golf, he was accustomed to say, when he was 'six or seven, maybe younger'; and immediately on leaving school he was apprenticed to a golf ball maker, Allan Robertson, perhaps the most finished golfer St. Andrews has produced and then in the height of his fame. Serving under Robertson for four years as an apprentice and five as a journeyman, Morris had many opportunities of practising the game with him, until he was able to meet him on almost equal terms; and the two as partners were more than able to hold their own against any golfers of their time. Shortly after his marriage to Nancy Bayne, the daughter of a coachman, he went in 1851 to Prestwick, Ayrshire, where, besides being keeper of the golf links, he set up as a golf club and ball maker. Having in 1853 beaten his old master, Robertson, in a single round for a small stake, he challenged him to play him for 100l., but Robertson did not respond. Morris, however, found a worthy rival in Willie Park of Musselburgh, who was some years his junior. Park was the more brilliant and stylish player, a longer driver, and also a better putter than Morris; but Morris was the more careful and imperturbable, excelled in approaching, and but for an occasional tendency to be short with his putts would always have had the advantage. Of six matches played in 1854 each won three. Of matches played, each over four different greens, that of 1856 was won by Park by 8 and 6 to play; that of 1862 was won by Morris by 17 holes; that of 1870 was unfinished, the referee, on account of the behaviour of the crowd on the last green (Musselburgh), postponing the playing of the last six holes until next day, and Park, who was loading by one holes refusing to abide by the decision ; and that of 1882 was won by Morris, then in his sixty-first year, by 6 up and 3 to play. In the first year of its institution, in 1800, the open championship was won by Park, in the next two years by Morris, then by Park, and again by Morris, who also won it in 1866, Park winning it as late as 1875.
From 1863 to 1903 Morris was green keeper to the Royal and Ancient Club, St. Andrews, and during the forty years his sturdy, blackbearded figure — in his later years gradually whitening — might be seen regulating the starting of the players in all the principal tournaments. From the time that the modern furore for golf began he was also largely employed in the planning of golfing greens in all parts of the kingdom, and latterly he occupied a unique position as a kind of golf patriarch. He had, amongst his contemporaries, no superior when in his prime, nor until he was out-played by his son Tom. So long did he retain his exceptional powers that in 1893, in his 72nd year, he won the first prize and medal in the annual competition of St. Andrews club makers ; and, although allowed 5, his score of 83 was the lowest by three. In his eightieth year he went round the links in 86. He was in fairly good health when his death was brought about, on 24 May 1908, by accidentally falling down a stair. He attributed his good health to the fact that he always slept with his bedroom window open, and to his morning swim in the sea, summer and winter. He was a ruling elder in the parish church, St. Andrews, and on one occasion was chosen a representative elder to the general assembly. He had two sons — both in the business with him as club makers — and a daughter.
The elder son, Tom, known as 'Young Tom,' achieved the unique feat of winning the open championship in 1868 when only in his seventeenth year, and of winning it during three successive years, and this with record scores. He died suddenly on 25 Sept. 1875. A monumental tombstone, with his figure three quarter size, was erected, by subscriptions obtained through the different golf clubs of the kingdom, over his grave in the cathedral burying ground, St. Andrews. The second son 'J. O. F.,' a fairly good golfer, died in 1906. In 1903 the portrait of Morris was painted for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, by Sir George Reid.
[Life by W. W. Tulloch, D.D.. 1906; the Badminton Book of Golf ; Scotsman, and Glasgow Herald, 25 May 1906; personal recollections.]