Professional Golfer. He was the winner of the British Open Championship in three consecutive years, 1877, 1878 and 1879. His father was David 'Da' Anderson, a caddy, a maker of feathery golf balls and hickory clubs, and the greens-keeper at the Old Course, where the 4th Hole (Ginger Beer) is named in his honor. Like his father, he started life as a club maker, joining "Forgan" as an apprentice. Fortunately, he found plenty time to caddy on the Old Course and to play golf. When the Open came to St Andrews in 1873, he entered and finished in second place. The first of his three wins came at Musselburgh with a two shot win ahead of Bob Pringle. The following year at Prestwick saw him finish the last four holes in 13 strokes, with an iron shot holed at the 15th and a hole in one on the 17th. In 1879 the Open returned to his home course at St Andrews where he won by three shots. He is one of only four golfers who have won three consecutive Opens. It is said that he was a player who was very consistent, hit the ball very straight and played at a no-nonsense fast pace. After his Open wins, he went into business on his own, making clubs but as his sons grew older they joined him, with the business being known as James Anderson and Sons. This then became The Golf Company the following year the Kilrymont Golf Company. Although he was an excellent club maker with his rare, beautifully crafted long-nose woods still being highly sort after, his business did not survive. Along with two of his sons he went back to work for "Forgan," while his third son went to work for Robert Forgan's brother, Andrew, in Glasgow. It is not known how or why his life took a downward turn but he ended his days in a poorhouse in Thornton, Fife.