Walter Hagen successfully defended his 1928 title, six strokes ahead of runner-up Johnny Farrell.

It was Hagen's fourth win at the Open and his eleventh and final major title.

[1][11] There was a change in the cut rule; players needed to be within fourteen strokes of the leader after 36 holes, but there was to be a minimum of sixty left in the field.

Diegel was a shot behind runner-up Farrell in third place, while Alliss and Mitchell shared fourth at 300.

Six-time champion Harry Vardon, age 59, qualified for the Open for the final time and missed the cut by three strokes.