[AuH2ORepublican]

Rush said “He’s the youngest player, professional, to win the British Open.”

Presumably, Young Tom Morris wasn’t a professional when he won the British Open between the ages of 17 and 22—and were there even “professional” golfers back then? But you’re correct that Seve Ballesteros was 22, and had been a professional for several years already, when he won the British Open in 1979.

Could Rush have meant that Spieth was the youngest professional American to win? That wouldn’t excuse his misstatement, but it would explain it.

[newfreep]

Yes, Spieth was the youngest American to win The Open.

[Hot Tabasco]

That wouldn’t excuse his misstatement, but it would explain it.

Virtually every news outlet announcing the win made the same claim..........ain't no big thang......

[stylin19a]

Young Tom was a professional golfer.
The British Open started as the Professional Championship tournament at Prestwick in 1860.
The Professional Championship opened up to amateurs in 1861, starting the beginning of “The Open Championship”.

According to Morris’s Hall of Fame bio, he took money from an exhibition match when he was 13.

http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/tom-morris-jr/

He finished 4th in the 1867 Open and won 1 pound.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1867_Open_Championship