At the age of sixteen in 1867 he finished fourth in the Open Championship. The following year at the age of seventeen years five months and eight days Young Tommy became the youngest ever winner of the Open. This was the first of three consecutive wins thereby taking the Open Champions Belt as his own. His third win in 1870 was by a twelve stroke margin and his total of 149 was a record for the Prestwick course never equalled so long as the Gutty ball was in use.

PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB THE CHAMPIONS BELT 1870 Name:Tommy Morris Junior
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Name Back of Cardinal Alps Tunnel (Red) Stone Dyke Sea He'therick Tunnel (White) Green Hollow Station Burn Lunch House Short Home	Yards 578 391 167 482 460 350 165 162 298 290 97 359 3799	Bogey 5 5 3 5 5 4 3 3 5 4 3 4 49	Score 3 5 3 5 6 3 3 3 4 3 4 5 47

The 1871 Open Championship was cancelled but in the following year the Prestwick Golf Club joined forces with the Royal and Ancient and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to subscribe to a new trophy, the silver claret jug, to be played for in rotation over the Prestwick, St. Andrews and Musselburgh courses.

The winner in 1872 was again Young Tommy Morris giving him a fourth record consecutive win...