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A second-round 73 kept him in touch with the leaders who now included exiled Scot Willie Smith, the US Open Champion of 1899. His score of 71 was the best of the second day.
Duncan regained his advantage with a third round 71, but as Smith dropped back having shot an 80, the steady Braid maintained his position with a 74.
Sandy Herd, the 1902 winner, moved into contention during the final round recording a total of 303, but Smith continued his slide with a second successive score of 80. Duncan, meanwhile, lost his touch around the greens and faded from the picture with a closing 83.
That left Braid with the chance to seal an unprecedented fifth win, which he duly did, closing with a 76. In doing so he set a new record for the lowest ever total around the Old Course during an Open Championship of 299.
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Braid's name was now becoming synonymous with golf course design and he became one of the leading architects in the world with the Kings and Queens courses at Gleneagles and Blairgowrie's Rosemount amongst his most famous lay-outs. He also was responsible for making alterations to previously established courses such as Troon in Ayrshire and Ballybunion in Ireland.
He remained involved in golf as professional at Walton Heath in Surrey until his death at the age of 80 in 1950.
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