Willie Nolan led the qualifiers with 138; the qualifying score was 158 and 117 players qualified. The leading 60 players and ties after 36 holes made the cut to play on the final day. Walter Hagen led after each of the first two rounds and scores of 152 (+6) and better made the cut.

In pursuit of his twelfth major title, Hagen opened with 68 to take the lead on Wednesday.{{cite news cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1933/07/06/page/21/article/hagen-shoots-68-to-lead-british-open-tourney |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |title=Hagen shoots 68 to lead British Open tourney |date=6 July 1933 |page=21}}}}