In 1870, Tommy Morris Jr. had won the Challenge Belt for the third successive year and gained permanent possession of it.

At the 1871 Spring Meeting of Prestwick Golf Club (which had run and hosted the Championship from its start in 1860), it was agreed that they would invite The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Musselburgh to share in the running and hosting of the Championship.

The Championship was announced in August 1872,[2] although the final minute of agreement between Prestwick, the Royal and Ancient and the Honourable Company to host The Open jointly was not signed until 11 September.

Morris then played a blind niblick shot over the wall and "laid it dead at the hole".

Strath started the round well "but after the second hole he played an unfortunate iron shot, which caused him three strokes.