Golf champion. Born in St. Andrews, the son of another golfing pioneer 'Old Daw' whose Ginger-Beer stall gave the name to the 4th hole on the Old Course, Anderson took up golf from and early age and went on to become a remarkably consistent player. He was the first to win three consecutive Open Championships over three different courses; namely Musselburgh (1877), Prestwick (1878) and St. Andrews (1879). Previously the competition had been played exclusively at Prestwick and dominated by 'Young' Tom Morris (1851-75). Anderson's achievement has been repeated only twice since, between 1880-82 by fellow Scot Bob Ferguson (1848 - 1915) and between 1954-56 by Australian Peter Thomson.
In later life Anderson suffered poverty and he died in Dysart Combination Poorhouse (at Thornton, Fife). He was buried in the graveyard surrounding St. Andrews Cathedral, in a lair with one of his sons who had died in 1863, although Anderson's name is not recorded on the stone.