Although he began playing golf at the age of 38, Canadian George S. Lyon was a natural athlete who excelled at cricket, baseball, hockey, football and tennis. Before the age of 20 he set a Canadian record in the pole vault.
His golf swing was unorthodox and no one expected him to contend at the 1904 Games with the reigning United States Amateur Champion, Chandler Egan. The 20-year old Egan was known as a long hitter of the golf ball and had won the pre-tournament long-drive contest with a drive of 234 yards. Lyon, on the other hand, was a relative newcomer to the game and was little known in the golfing world.
Both Egan and Lyon advanced through their first four matches with little difficulty. In the gold medal match, Lyon hit his opening drive an astounding 276 yards onto the green, leading to a birdie and early lead. Egan was never able to even the match from that point on, and Lyon went on to capture an unlikely 3 & 2 victory and gold medal.
Lyon’s reign as the Olympic champion for golf is nearing an end. Will another Canadian take hold of the gold?
