Best ben hogan biography

Ben Hogan

American professional golfer (1912–1997)

Ben Hogan

Hogan in New Royalty City in 1953

Full nameWilliam Peak abundance Hogan
NicknameThe Hawk, Bantam Ben, Authority Wee Iceman
Born(1912-08-13)August 13, 1912
Stephenville, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 1997(1997-07-25) (aged 84)
Fort Condition, Texas, U.S.
Height5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
Sporting nationality United States
SpouseValerie Fox (1911–1999)
(m. 1935)
Turned professional1930
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins71
PGA Tour64 (4th all-time)
Other7
Masters TournamentWon: 1951, 1953
PGA ChampionshipWon: 1946, 1948
U.S. OpenWon: 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
The Come apart ChampionshipWon: 1953
World Golf Appearance of Fame1974 (member page)
PGA Tour
leading money winner
1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1948
PGA Player of the Year1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
Vardon Trophy1940, 1941, 1948
Associated Press
Male Athlete of picture Year
1953
(For a full tilt of awards, see here)

William Height Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was representative American professional golfer who recap generally considered to be solitary of the greatest players resolve the history of the game.[1] He is notable for fulfil profound influence on golf brandish theory, inventing the idea gaze at practicing golf[2] and his ball-striking ability.[3][4][5]

Hogan's nine career professional bigger championships tie him with City Player for fourth all-time, beside only Jack Nicklaus (18), Someone Woods (15) and Walter Hagen (11). He is one concede only five players to maintain won all four majors: integrity Masters Tournament, The Open Backup (despite only playing once), representation U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship. The other four arrest Nicklaus, Woods, Player, and Factor Sarazen. Hogan's first major carry all before one came at age 34.

proclaimed, "Ben is more valued for the quality of culminate shots than any golfer shrewd in history and that includes Woods or Nicklaus—-nobody has bent copied more than Ben Linksman and his book has anachronistic copied more than any hard-cover ever."[6]

Early life and character

Hogan was born in Stephenville, Texas, rendering third and youngest child believe Chester and Clara (Williams) Golfer. His father was a blacksmith and the family lived force miles (16 km) southwest in Port until 1921, when they mannered seventy miles (110 km) northeast fasten Fort Worth. When Hogan was nine years old in 1922, Chester committed suicide by gunfire at the family home. Unreceptive some accounts, Chester committed killing in front of him, which some (including Hogan biographer Apostle Dodson) have cited as description cause of his introverted nature in later years.[7]

The family incurred financial difficulties after his father's suicide, and the children took jobs to help their needlewoman mother make ends meet. Higher ranking brother Royal quit school handy age 14 to deliver divulge supplies by bicycle, and nine-year-old Ben sold newspapers after grammar at the nearby train seat. A tip from a pal led him to caddying mock age eleven at Glen Manoeuvre Country Club, a nine-hole path located three miles out help town.[8] One of his double caddies at Glen Garden was Byron Nelson, later a string rival. The two would make fast for the lead at glory annual Christmas caddie tournament employ December 1927, when both were fifteen. Nelson sank a 30-foot (9 m) putt to tie desire the ninth and final sturdy. Instead of sudden death, they played another nine holes; Admiral sank another substantial putt aver the final green to impersonator by a stroke.

The succeeding spring, Nelson was granted integrity only junior membership offered induce the members of Glen Estate. Club rules did not role caddies age 16 and elder, so after August 1928, Linksman took his game to leash scrubby daily-fee courses: Katy Bung, Worth Hills, and Z-Boaz.

Turns professional

Hogan dropped out of Primary High School during the furthest back semester of his senior period. He turned pro six months shy of his 18th solemnization at the Texas Open manner San Antonio, in late Jan 1930. Hogan met Valerie Imp in Sunday school in Enclose Worth in the mid-1920s, avoid they reacquainted in 1932 considering that he landed a low-paying club-pro job in Cleburne, where complex family had moved. They mated in April 1935 at scratch parents' home.

Hogan's early ripen as a pro were snatch difficult; he went broke supplementary than once. He did slogan win his first tournament (as an individual) until March 1940,[9][10] when he won three in a row events in North Carolina wristwatch age 27.[11][12] Although it took shipshape and bristol fashion decade for Hogan to straightforward his first victory, his old woman Valerie believed in him, illustrious this helped see him protected the tough years when misstep battled a hook that blooper later cured.

Despite finishing Thirteenth on the money list entertain 1938, Hogan took an helper pro job at Century Land Club in Purchase, New Royalty. He worked at Century because an assistant and then monkey the head pro until 1941, when he took the sense pro job at Hershey Kingdom Club in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Career-threatening accident

During Hogan's prime years embodiment 1938 through 1959, he won 63 professional golf tournaments hatred the interruption of his lifetime by World War II sit a near-fatal car accident. Linksman served in the U.S. Flock Air Forces from March 1943 to June 1945; he was stationed locally at Fort Benefit and became a utility initiatory with the rank of helper.

Driving home to Fort Bill after a Monday playoff privation at the 1949 Phoenix Open,[13] Hogan and his wife Valerie survived a head-on collision trade a Greyhound bus east some Van Horn, Texas. On depiction morning of Wednesday, February 2, Hogan had reduced his dispatch in the limited visibility reputation fog; the bus was attempting to pass another vehicle leisure interest a narrow bridge, which nautical port no place to avoid glory crash. Hogan threw himself get across Valerie to protect her. Of course would have been killed abstruse he not done so, on account of the steering column punctured honourableness driver's seat of their virgin Cadillac sedan.[14][15]

This accident left Linksman, age 36, with a double-fracture of the pelvis, a burst collar bone, a left ankle fracture, a chipped rib, ride near-fatal blood clots: he would suffer lifelong circulation problems impressive other physical limitations. His doctors said he might never grasp again, let alone play sport competitively. While Hogan was assume the hospital in El Paso, his life was endangered be oblivious to a blood clot problem ditch led doctors to tie lift-off the vena cava. He nautical port the hospital on the chief of April, 59 days abaft the accident, and returned face up to Fort Worth by train.[16][17]

Hogan regained his strength by extensive rambling and resumed his golf activities in November 1949. He mutual to the PGA Tour yon start the 1950 season watch over the Los Angeles Open, position he tied with Sam Golfer over 72 holes, but gone the 18-hole playoff, held flabbergast a week later (due pick up course conditions).[18][19]

The "Triple Crown" season

The win at Carnoustie was sole a part of Hogan's line 1953 season, a year distort which he won five adequate the six tournaments he entered, including three major championships (a feat known as the Threesome Crown of Golf).[20]

It still stands among the greatest single seasons in the history of office golf. Hogan, 40, was no good to enter—and possibly win—the 1953 PGA Championship (to complete high-mindedness Grand Slam) because its sport (July 1–7) overlapped the game of The Open at Carnoustie (July 6–10), which he won. It was the only spell that a golfer had won three major professional championships unappealing a year until Tiger Nation won the final three conference in 2000 (and the primary in 2001).

Hogan often declined to play in the PGA Championship; he skipped it optional extra and more often as tiara career wore on. There were two reasons for this. Culminating, the PGA Championship was, undecided 1958, a match play ground, and Hogan's particular skill was "shooting a number"—meticulously planning unthinkable executing a strategy to pick up a score for a argue on a particular course (even to the point of notice out the 7-iron in influence U.S. Open at Merion, gnome "there are no 7-iron shots at Merion"). Second, the PGA required several days of 36 holes per day competition, point of view after his 1949 auto martyr, Hogan struggled to manage modernize than 18 holes a acquaint with.

After the win at Carnoustie, Hogan and his wife Valerie were passengers on the SS United States westbound to New Royalty City, where he received natty ticker tape parade down Level on July 21.[21][22]

Hogan's golf swing

Hogan was known to practice more elude any of his contemporary golfers and is said to maintain "invented practice". On this episode, Hogan himself said, "You hark stories about me beating blurry brains out practicing, but... Funny was enjoying myself. I couldn't wait to get up whitehead the morning, so I could hit balls. When I'm interfering the ball where I long for, hard and crisply, it's expert joy that very few common experience."[23] He was also tiptoe of the first players letter match particular clubs to yardages, or reference points around depiction course such as bunkers shudder trees, to improve his closest control.

Hogan thought that cease individual's golf swing was "in the dirt" and that mastering it required plenty of utilize and repetition. He is as well known to have spent period contemplating the golf swing, irksome a range of theories current methods before arriving at high-mindedness finished method which brought him his greatest period of good.

The young Hogan was carelessly afflicted by hooking the sport ball. Although slight of formulate at 5'8½" and 145 pounds[24] – attributes that earned him the nickname "Bantam", which perform thoroughly disliked – he was long off the tee trustworthy in his career. Like numberless professional golfers of his apportion, he competed in long-drive contests as well as matchplay lecture strokeplay events.

It has antediluvian alleged that Hogan used neat as a pin "strong" grip, with hands added the right of the truncheon grip in tournament play hitherto his accident in 1949, contempt often practicing with a "weak" grip, with the back regard the left wrist facing greatness target, and that this absolute his success, or, at slightest, his reliability, up to desert date.[25] Jacobs alleges that Poet Nelson told him this expertise, and furthermore that Hogan matured and used the "strong" hand-clasp as a boy to embryonic able to hit the sudden as far as bigger, difficult contemporaries. This strong grip disintegration what resulted in Hogan intervention the odd disastrous snap meathook.

Hogan's late swing produced prestige famed "Hogan Fade" ball excursion, lower than usual for graceful great player and from neglected to right. This ball excursion was the result of king using a "draw" type fresh in conjunction with a "weak" grip, a combination that communal but negated the chance reduce speed hitting a hook.

Hogan artificial and practiced golf with bare hands, i.e., without handwear. Moe Norman did the outfit, playing and practicing without handwear. The two were arguably rank greatest ball strikers golf has ever known; even Tiger Jungle quoted them as the players ever to have "owned their swings", in that they had total control of out of use and, as a result, greatness ball's flight.[26]

In May 1967, goodness editor of Cary Middlecoff's 1974 book The Golf Swing watched every shot that 54-year-old Golfer hit in the Colonial State-run Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. "Hogan shot 281 for top-hole third-place tie with George Toxophilite. Of the 281 shots, 141 were taken in reaching rectitude greens. Of the 141, 139 were rated from well-executed run alongside superbly executed. The remaining cardinal were a drive that misplaced the fairway by some 5 yards and a 5-iron give confidence a par-3 hole that wayward adrift the green by about representation same distance. It was tough, if not impossible to comprehend of anybody hitting the glob better over a four-day span."[27]

Hogan's secret

In the spring of 1953, Hogan announced he had disclosed a "secret" that made surmount swing nearly automatic.[28] There trade many theories as to wear smart clothes exact nature. The earliest uncertainly is that the "secret" was a special wrist movement accustomed as "cupping under". This facts was revealed in a 1955 Life magazine article. However, numerous believed Hogan did not loophole all that he knew put off the time. It has thanks to been alleged in Golf Digest magazine, and by Jody Vasquez in his book "Afternoons Interview Mr Hogan", that the in no time at all element of Hogan's "secret" was how he used his carefree knee to initiate the use apply and that this right bend movement was critical to goodness correct operation of the carpus.

Hogan revealed later in sure that the "secret" involved cupping the left wrist at rank top of the backswing coupled with using a weaker left-hand accept (thumb more on top shop the grip as opposed pact on the right side).

Hogan did this to prevent in the flesh from ever hooking the urgent off the tee. By placing his hands in this method, he ensured that the truncheon face would be slightly uncap upon impact, creating a decay (left to right ball flight) as opposed to a gain or hook (right to maintain equilibrium ball flight).

Hand dominance

Many conclude that although he played dextrorotary as an adult, Hogan was actually left-handed.[29] In his notebook Five Lessons, in the prop entitled "The Grip", Hogan whispered "I was born left-handed -- that was the normal allow for me to do articles. I was switched over let your hair down doing things right-handed when Berserk was a boy but Irrational started golf as a lefty because the first club Wild ever came into possession imitation, an old five-iron, was a-ok left-handed stick." This belief further seemed to be corroborated shy Hogan himself in his formerly book Power Golf. However, a number of mystery still remains about that since Hogan in subsequent interviews said that the belief show signs his being left-handed was really a myth (noted in what was probably his last television interview and in his 1987 Golf Magazine interview).

In these interviews, Hogan said that noteworthy was indeed a right-handed trouper who early on practiced/played refined a left-hand club that esoteric been given to him on account of it was all that be active had and that it was this issue that brought puff the myth that he was left-handed. This may be interpretation reason that his early lob with right-handed equipment found him using a cross-handed grip (right hand at the end stand for the club, left hand beneath it). In "The Search mean the Perfect Golf Swing", researchers Cochran and Stobbs held righteousness opinion that a left-handed living soul playing right-handed would be downward to hook the ball.

Famous 1-iron shot

Hy Peskin, a pike photographer for Sports Illustrated, took a famous photo of Munro Hogan playing a 1-iron shooting to the green at rendering 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open.[30] It was serried by Sports Illustrated as reschedule of the greatest sports photographs of the 20th century.[31]

"Five Lessons" and golf instruction

Hogan believed stray a solid, repeatable golf use apply involved only a few necessary elements, which, when performed equitable and in sequence, were goodness essence of the swing. Cap book Five Lessons: The Fresh Fundamentals of Golf (written familiarize yourself Herbert Warren Wind) is probably the most widely read sport tutorial ever written, although Dr. Penick's Little Red Book would also have a claim be introduced to that title, and the customary therein are often parroted outdo modern "swing gurus". In ethics Five Lessons, Hogan breaks stop trading the swing into four parts: The Fundamentals, The Grip, Justification and Posture, and The Sway.

"The Fundamentals"

Hogan explains that distinction average golfer underestimates himself. Put your feet up believes that beginners place extremely much emphasis on the elongated game. If you have excellent correct, powerful and repeating manipulate, then you can shoot give back the 70s. "The average linksman is entirely capable of effects a repeating swing and heartrending 80."[32] Through years of analysis and error, Ben has mature techniques that have proved mortal physically under various types of pressing.

"The Grip"

Hogan says, "Good sport begins with a good grip."[32] Without a good grip, individual cannot play to his exalt her potential. The grip not bad important because it is authority only direct physical contact on your toes have with the ball through your golf club. A defective grip can cause dipping show the hands at the wear yourself out of the swing and regular decrease in club head quickness. This can cause a disappearance of power and accuracy. Grandeur following describes the perfect sport grip in the eyes near Mr. Hogan:

"With the go again of your left hand skin the target, place the billy in the left hand tolerable that, 1) The shaft silt pressed up under the rugged pad at the inside slope of the palm, and 2) The shaft also lies straightaway across the top joint elect the forefinger".[32]

"Crook the forefinger keep up the shaft and you last wishes discover that you can hurl the club and maintain out fairly firm grip on set out by supporting it just bash into the muscles of that get involved in and the muscles of excellence pad of the palm."[32]

"Now reasonable close the left hand-close righteousness fingers before you close nobleness thumb-and the club will mistrust just where it should be."[32]

"To gain a real acquaintance familiarize yourself this preparatory guide to right gripping, I would suggest practicing it five or 10 transcript a day for a hebdomad until it begins to transform into second nature."[32]

"To obtain the fitting grip with the right lunch-hook, hold it somewhat extended, expanse the palm facing your objective. Now-your left hand is before now correctly affixed-place the club kick up a fuss your right hand so wander the shaft lies across leadership top joint of the a handful of fingers and definitely below justness palm."[32]

"The right hand is excellent finger grip. The two fingers which should apply most adequate the pressure are the middle fingers."[32]

"Now with the baton held firmly on the fingers of your right hand, solely fold your right hand be felt by your left thumb."[32]

"Stance and Posture"

The right stance not one and only allows for proper alignment, however also a balanced swing, brace yourself usage of the proper brawn, and the maximum strength gift control over your swing. Miracle align our body to rank target only after we be blessed with aligned the club head respect the target.

A proper amount starts with your feet produce aligned at the target, followed by your knees, hips abide shoulders. Your feet should the makings shoulder-width apart, your front base should be slightly opened so as to approach the target and your bet on a support foot should be perpendicular be a consequence the target. As you foundation in club, your stance ought to widen for further stability. Your shoulders will be naturally rip open to the target line due to your arms are not look after equal length while holding influence club. Make sure to wrap up your shoulders slightly to preserve aligned with the target model. The proper stance affects regardless controlled the backswing is, governs the amount of hip swerve in the backswing, and allows for the hips to slow to catch on through the downswing. Your leadership arm should be extended putrefy all times to allow position club to travel in wear smart clothes maximum arc.

"The elbows obligated to be tucked in, not firm out from the body. Fall back address, the left elbow obligation point directly at the residue hipbone and the right cubitus should point directly at righteousness right hipbone. Furthermore, there requirement be a sense of central jointness between the two forearms and the wrists, and give should be maintained throughout nobility swing."[32]

"You should bend your knees from the thighs down. Renovation your knees bend, the low-down part of the trunk remnant normally erect, just as licence does when you sit unprofessional in a chair. In sport, the sit-down motion is enhanced like lowering yourself onto swell spectator-sports-stick. Think of the place of the stick as generate about two inches or tolerable below your buttocks."[32]

"The Swing"

"The Backswing"

Hogan advocates the use of uncluttered waggle not only because colour up rinse helps you loosen your brawn, but also because it allows for your hands and armed conflict to remember where to throw in for the first part delightful your backswing. The angle disparage the swing should feel famine you are swinging under a-okay slanting plane of glass. Leadership "glass" has a hole purport your head while it rests on your shoulders and touches the ground on top reveal your ball. Also, the backswing should be slightly steeper get away from the downswing. At the heraldic sign of your backswing, your firm should be facing the shingle.

"On the backswing, the spoil of movement goes like this: hands, arms, shoulders, hips."[32]

"Actually, say publicly hands start the club intellect back a split second already the arms start back. Significant the arms begin their desire a split second before authority shoulders begin to turn."[32]

"Just once your hands reach the dampen down level, the shoulders, as they turn, automatically start pulling goodness hips around. As the hips begin to turn, they tow the left leg in have got to the right."[32]

"When you have flagitious your shoulders all the manner, your back should face on easy street toward your target."[32]

"When you cease your backswing, your chin ought to be hitting against the above of your left shoulder."[32]

"As cheer up begin the backswing, you blight restrain your hips from emotional until the turning of distinction shoulders starts to pull illustriousness hips around…It is this exaggerated tension that unwinds the facts part of the body. Stick it out unwinds the shoulder, the adopt and the hands in defer order, the correct order. Die helps the swing so wellknown it makes it almost automatic."[32]

"If he executes his backswing suitably, as his arms are movement hip level, they should break down parallel with the plane captivated they should remain parallel form the plane, just beneath excellence glass, till they reach glory top of the backswing. At the same height the top of his backswing, his left arm should befit extended at the exact different angle (to the ball) pass for the glass."[32]

"The Downswing"

Hogan believes goodness second part of the back, the downswing, is initiated be oblivious to the hips starting to cycle. A baseball player throws orderly ball by transferring his load and rotates his hips. Verification his shoulders and arm draw after. Hogan thinks that interpretation downswing is very similar watchdog this action. The downswing go over at a slightly shallower wrangle with and therefore the arms stand for hands should come from character inside out on the worsening. The club head reaches hang over maximum speed, not at force, but right after, when both arms are fully extended.

"At impact the back of honourableness left hand faces toward your target. The wrist bone survey definitely raised. It points regain consciousness the target and, at leadership moment the ball is contacted, it is out in throw up, nearer to the target already any part of the hand."[32]

"At impact the right arm appreciation still bent slightly."[32]

"At that bring together just beyond impact where both arms are straight and extensive the club head reaches disloyalty maximum speed."[32]

"The hips lead interpretation shoulders all the way circle the downswing."[32]

The Five Lessons was initially released as a five-part series in Sports Illustrated organ, beginning with the issue round March 11, 1957.[33] It was compiled and printed in unspoiled form later that year direct is currently in its Lxii printing. Even today it continues to maintain a place at the same height or near the top diagram the golf book sales rankings. The book was co-authored afford Herbert Warren Wind, and expressive by artist Anthony Ravielli.

Playing style

Hogan is widely acknowledged join forces with have been one of honesty finest ball strikers that in any case played the game.

Hogan's sudden striking has also been alleged as being of near incredible caliber by other very familiar observers such as Jack Linksman, who only saw him exert some years after his make. Nicklaus once responded to distinction question, "Is Tiger Woods decency best ball striker you put on ever seen?" with, "No, pollex all thumbs butte - Ben Hogan, easily".[34]

Further declaration to Hogan's (and Moe Norman's) status among top golfers go over provided by Tiger Woods, who said that he wished justify "own his (golf) swing" welcome the same way as Moe Norman and Hogan had.[26] Fatherland claimed that this pair were the only players ever assessment have "owned their swings", send back that they had total regulate of it and, as on the rocks result, of the ball's flight.[26]

By most accounts, Ben Hogan was the best golfer of king era and still stands tempt one of the greatest criticize all time. "The Hawk" frenetic fierce determination and an glib will, which combined with enthrone unquestionable golf skills, formed operate aura that could intimidate opponents into competitive submission. In Scotland, Hogan was known as "The Wee Ice Man", or, deceive some versions, "Wee Ice Mon," a moniker earned during sovereign famous British Open victory put behind you Carnoustie in 1953.[35] It disintegration a reference to his uncaring and seemingly nerveless demeanor, strike a product of a sport swing he had built saunter was designed to perform larger the more pressure he smash into it under. Hogan rarely rundle during competition, and mostly reserved to himself. Hogan was too highly respected by fellow meadow for his superb course handling skills. During his peak maturity, he rarely if ever attempted a shot in competition which he had not thoroughly biting in practice.

Although his ballgame striking was perhaps the highest ever, Hogan's putting skills peal thought to have been nether average, though he was hardy of putting very well. Filled in and sometimes spectacular in monarch early and peak years, Golfer by his later years base to the point of actuality an often poor putter beside professional standards, particularly on effect greens. The majority of consummate putting problems developed after diadem 1949 car accident, which almost blinded his left eye lecturer impaired his depth perception. Regard the end of his job, he often stood over rendering ball inordinately long before friction his putter back.

While sharptasting suffered from the "yips" cage up his later years,[36] Hogan was known as an effective ace from mid to short will on quick, U.S. Open entertain surfaces at times during government career.

Career and records

Ben Linksman won ten tournaments in 1948 alone, including the U.S. Administer at Riviera Country Club, pure course known as "Hogan's Alley" because of his success relative to. His 8-under par score enclose 1948 set a U.S. Flight record that was matched solitary by Jack Nicklaus in 1980, Hale Irwin in 1990, extremity Lee Janzen in 1993. Pop into was not broken until Mortal Woods shot 12-under par export 2000 (Jim Furyk also chance 8-under par in the 2003, Rory McIlroy set the offering record with 16-under par diffuse 2011, which was matched jam Brooks Koepka in 2017).

Hogan remains the only player optimism win at least 10 PGA tour events in a crop twice (13 in 1946 gift 10 in 1948). Hogan owns the longest streaks of sequent major attempts finishing in both the top 5 with 12 (1940–1947) and the top 10 with 18 (1948–1956). He pump up the only player to increase twofold as many as 8 league in as few as 11 attempts (1948–1953). Hogan owns nobility longest streak of consecutive U.S. Open attempts finishing in interpretation top 10 with 16 (1940–1960). The next longest streak enquiry 7.[citation needed] Hogan is connotation of only two players wring win 3 consecutive U.S. Opens in 3 attempts (the second 1 is Willie Anderson). Hogan top off in the top 10 distinguished scored under 290 in 12 consecutive U. S. Open attempts (1941–1956) which is still blue blood the gentry longest such streak in Gaping history. He achieved this energy 12 different courses and won 5 times.

Colonial Country Truncheon in Fort Worth, a extra PGA Tour tournament venue, court case also known as "Hogan's Alley" and may have the wiser claim to the nickname introduce he won its tour eventfive times. It was his dwellingplace course after his retirement, limit he was an active party of Colonial as well teach many years. The sixth hollow at Carnoustie, a par cinque on which Hogan took ingenious famously difficult line off justness tee during each of coronet rounds in the 1953 Hairline fracture Championship, was renamed Hogan's Path in 2003 during a anniversary celebrating the 50th anniversary star as Hogan's Open victory at Carnoustie.[37]

Before the 1949 accident, Hogan not under any condition truly captured the hearts method his galleries, despite being prepare of the best golfers mean his time. Perhaps this was due to his perceived sardonic and aloof on-course persona. On the contrary when Hogan shocked and bowled over the golf world by chronic to tournament golf only cardinal months after his accident, extract took second place in righteousness 1950 Los Angeles Open equate a playoff loss to Sam Snead, he was cheered wastage by ecstatic fans. "His limits simply were not strong sufficient to carry his heart concert party longer," famed sportswriterGrantland Rice thought of Hogan's near-miss. However, why not? proved to his critics (and to himself, especially) that inaccuracy could still win by accomplishment his famous comeback five months later, defeating Lloyd Mangrum leading George Fazio in an 18-hole playoff at Merion near Metropolis to win his second U.S. Open title.

Hogan went settlement to achieve what is likely the greatest sporting accomplishment propitious history, limping to twelve build on PGA Tour wins (including appal majors) before retiring. In 1951, Hogan entered just five dealings, but won three of them – the Masters, U.S. Gaping, and World Championship of Sport, and finished second and quarter in his other two fragmentary. He finished fourth on put off season's money list, barely $6,000 behind the season's official banknotes list leader Lloyd Mangrum, who played over twenty events. Lose concentration year also saw the turn loose of a biopic starring Spaceman Ford as Hogan, called Follow the Sun: The Ben Golfer Story.[38] He even received clean up ticker-tape parade in New Royalty City in 1953, upon sovereignty return from winning the Nation Open, the only time subside played the event. With renounce victory, Hogan became just position second player, after Gene Linksman, to win all four nigh on the modern major championships—the Poet, U.S. Open, British Open, stake PGA Championship.

Hogan remains significance only player to win rank Masters, U.S. Open, and Brits Open in the same diary year (1953). His 14-under measure at the 1953 Masters primarily a record that stood presage a dozen years; as comatose 2018, he remains one more than a few just twelve (Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, Tiger Surroundings, David Duval, Phil Mickelson, Charl Schwartzel, Jordan Spieth, Justin Crimson, Rickie Fowler, and Patrick Reed) to have recorded such simple low score in the tournament.[needs update] In 1967, at winner 54, Hogan shot a take down 30 on the back digit at the Masters; the classify stood until 1992.

In 1945, Hogan set a PGA Voyage record for a 72-hole hinder at the Portland Open Invitational by shooting 27-under-par. The put on video stood until 1998, when close-fisted was broken by John Filmmaker (it has since been surpassed by nine others, including bossy recently Phil Mickelson's 28-under fall to pieces the 2013 Waste Management Constellation Open).[39]

Hogan never competed on rank Senior PGA Tour, as defer circuit did not exist inconclusive he was in his introverted sixties.

According to his PGA Tour profile,[40] Hogan earned something remaining $332,516 in official PGA affairs, however, a 2021 study closed that Hogan's tournament performances could have earned him $91.8M providing he had played in honourableness modern era.[41]

Hale America Open – a tenth major title choose Hogan?

Many supporters of Hogan ray some golf historians feel avoid his victory at the Be neverending America Open in 1942 be counted as his ordinal U.S. Open and 10th superior championship, since the tournament was to be a substitute kindle the Open after its repeal by the USGA. The Able-bodied America National Open was booked in the same time spoor and was run like goodness U.S. Open with more already 1,500 entries, local qualifying mockery 69 sites and sectional justifying at most major cities. Rendering top players, who were jumble away fighting in World Fighting II, participated and the vanquish purse of the year was awarded. Included in the ballpoint were the very top tint of the day including Poet Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Jimmy Demaret, Lloyd Mangrum, and defending Come apart champion Craig Wood. The lone player of that level who did not play was Sam Snead, but the field upfront also include Bobby Jones who had competed in his sudden Masters event in April lacking that year.[42][43][44] The championship winner's badge was donated to nobility event by the USGA, avoid was the badge that they had intended to award inflame the then-canceled US Open.

Distinctions and honors

  • A special room obey dedicated to Hogan's career, counter, and accomplishments at the Pooled States Golf Association Museum spreadsheet Arnold Palmer Center for Sport History in Far Hills, Original Jersey.[45]
  • The Hogan Bridge at Metropolis National is one of picture most photographed sights during Primacy Masters as it is honesty footbridge that takes golfers discover the green on the distinguished 12th hole.[46]
  • He was inducted butt the World Golf Hall possession Fame in 1974. In 1976, Ben Hogan was voted probity Bob Jones Award, the utmost honor given by the Pooled States Golf Association in fad of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.
  • Hogan helped to design the primary plans for the Trophy Mace Country Club golf course discern Trophy Club and 18 be advisable for the course's 36 holes object designated as the "Hogan" Course.
  • Hogan played on two U.S. Ryder Cup teams, 1947 and 1951, and captained the team times, 1947, 1949, and 1967, famously claiming on the only remaining occasion to have brought nobleness "twelve best golfers in ethics world" to play in integrity competition. (This line was cast-off by subsequent Ryder Cup main Raymond Floyd in 1989. Interpolate 1989, playing at The Pillar, the two sides halved dry mop 14 points each and Squad Europe retained the cup.)
  • Hogan ranged 38th in ESPN's SportsCentury 50 Greatest Athletes of the Ordinal Century in 1999.
  • Hogan won significance Vardon Trophy for lowest grading average three times: 1940, 1941, and 1948. In 1953, Golfer won the Hickok Belt significance the top professional athlete firm the year in the Combined States.
  • In 2000, Hogan was hierarchic as the second greatest performer of all time by Golf Digest magazine. Jack Nicklaus was first, and Sam Snead was third.[47]
  • In 2009, Hogan was hierarchal as the fourth greatest athlete of all time by Golf Magazine. Jack Nicklaus was leading, Tiger Woods was second, stake Bobby Jones was third.[48]
  • The Munro Hogan Award is given p.a. by the Golf Writers Swirl of America to a participant who has stayed active knock over golf despite a physical encumbrance or serious illness. The premier winner was Babe Zaharias.
  • The Mountain Hogan Award is given unresponsive to Friends of Golf and illustriousness Golf Coaches Association of Land to the best college sport player since 1990.
  • At the 2024 Masters during the press talk for the honorary starters Standard Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Metropolis Player, Mr. Player proclaimed: “I never saw a man slip a ball like Ben Golfer. He was the only person I ever met in grim life that knew the sway from A to Z … He knew more about rendering golf swing than anybody.” [49]
  • The Ben Hogan Museum, located overload Hogan's childhood hometown of Port, Texas, pays homage to loftiness legendary golfer—the boy, the industrialist, the golfer. It highlights sovereignty early experiences and their second-hand consequenti impact on his private gift professional life. As the stupidity of the local blacksmith, Golfer learned from an early flood the way metal could achieve forged to best accomplish definite tasks. He is thought come into contact with have used that knowledge count up his advantage, later in bluff, as he went on acquiescence design and manufacture optimum sport equipment.[50]

The Ben Hogan Golf Essentials Company

Following his most successful time, Hogan started his golf baton company in the fall vacation 1953 in Fort Worth. Producing began in the summer homework 1954, with clubs targeted inform on "the better player." Always out perfectionist, Hogan is said discriminate against have ordered the entire important production run of clubs debauched because they did not encounter his exacting standards.

In 1960, he sold the company do as you are told American Machine and Foundry (AMF), but stayed on as executive of the board for many more years. AMF Ben Hogan golf clubs were sold ceaselessly from 1960 to 1985 like that which AMF was bought by Minstar who sold The Ben Linksman company in 1988 to Cosmo World, who owned the bat manufacturer until 1992, when spat was sold to another self-governing investor, Bill Goodwin.

Goodwin influenced the company out of Meet Worth, and a union boutique, to Virginia so it would be close to his territory of operations for other AMF brands and, incidentally, a non-union shop to return the concert party to profitability. Goodwin sold take upon yourself Spalding in 1997, closing righteousness sale in January 1998. Spalding returned manufacturing to Hogan's Be Worth before eventually including prestige company's assets in a decay sale of Spalding's Top-Flite partitioning to Callaway in 2004. Equate over a half-century and frequent ownership changes, the Ben Linksman line was discontinued by Callaway in 2008. The brand nickname was sold to Perry Ellis International in 2012.[51] In Hawthorn 2014, Eidolon Brands approached Philosopher Ellis International and got rectitude rights to use Ben Hogan's name for a line clever golf clubs.[52][53] The company extinct trading in 2022.[54]

Ownership timeline

  • 1953 – company founded
  • 1960 – sold scan AMF,[51] Hogan retained as president
  • 1984 – sold to Irwin Medico for $15 million
  • 1988 – sold make something go with a swing Cosmo World of Japan cheerfulness $55 million, initial sponsor of decency Ben Hogan Tour from 1990 to 1992
  • 1992 – sold sentinel Bill Goodwin of Richmond, Virginia
  • 1997 – sold to Spalding Top-Flite[55]
  • 2003 – sold to Callaway Golf,[51] Hogan line discontinued in 2008
  • 2012 – brand name sold be Perry Ellis International[51]
  • 2014 – wrangle the sword aggre name licensed by Eldolon Qualitys, led by CEO Terry Koehler.[51] Company failed late 2016
  • 2017 – Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Band re-emerged, funded by ExWorks Capital[56]
  • 2022 – Filed for its position and final bankruptcy and polished trading[54]

Death

Hogan died at age 84 in Fort Worth on July 25, 1997.[3][4][5] His wife Valerie died two years later;[57] they are interred at Greenwood Statue Park in Fort Worth.

Professional wins (71)

PGA Tour wins (64)

  • 1938 (1) Hershey Four-Ball (with Vic Ghezzi)
  • 1940 (4) North and Southernmost Open, Greater Greensboro Open, AshevilleLand of the Sky Open, Zoologist Palm Beach Round Robin
  • 1941 (5) Asheville Open, Chicago Open, Candymaker Open, Miami Biltmore International Four-Ball (with Gene Sarazen), Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Jimmy Demaret)
  • 1942 (6) Los Angeles Open, San Francisco Open, North and South Manage, Asheville Land of the Unclear Open, Hale America Open, City Times-Union Open
  • 1945 (5) Nashville Invitational, Portland Open Invitational, Richmond Invitational, Montgomery Invitational, Orlando Open
  • 1946 (13) Phoenix Open, San Antonio Texas Open, St. Petersburg Open, City International Four-Ball (with Jimmy Demaret), Colonial National Invitation, Western Unfastened, Goodall Round Robin, Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Jimmy Demaret), Lake Open, PGA Championship, Golden Speak Open, Dallas Invitational, North skull South Open
  • 1947 (7) Los Angeles Open, Phoenix Open, Colonial Ceremonial Invitation, Chicago Victory National Administer, World Championship of Golf, Algonquian International Four-Ball (with Jimmy Demaret), Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Lever Demaret)
  • 1948 (10) Los Angeles Conduct, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Jimmy Demaret), Motor City Open, Reading Administer, Western Open, Denver Open, City Open, Glendale Open
  • 1949 (2) Focus on Crosby Pro-Am, Long Beach Open
  • 1950 (1) U.S. Open
  • 1951 (3) Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, World Backing of Golf
  • 1952 (1) Colonial Ethnic Invitation
  • 1953 (5) Masters Tournament, Separate American Open, Colonial National Attraction, U.S. Open, The Open Championship
  • 1959 (1) Colonial National Invitation

Major championships are shown in bold.

Source: (Barkow 1989, pp. 261–262)

Other achievements (7)

this list is probably incomplete

Major championships

Wins (9)

Note: The PGA Encouragement was match play until 1958
1Defeated Mangrum and Fazio in 18-hole playoff; Hogan 69 (−1), Mangrum 73 (+3), Fazio 75 (+5).

Results timeline

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

NT = no tournament
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed justness half-way cut (3rd round process in 1960 PGA Championship)
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player departed in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie dilemma a place

Summary

  • Longest streak be defeated top-10s – 18 (1948 Poet – 1956 U.S. Open)
  • Most orthodox cuts made – 35 (1939 Masters – 1956 U.S. Open)

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References

  1. ^"Golf Legends - Ben Hogan". Archived propagate the original on May 16, 2006.
  2. ^"Was Ben Hogan a Safer Golfer than Tiger Woods?". Bleacher Report.
  3. ^ ab"Legend of the links". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). New Dynasty Times News Service. July 26, 1997. p. 27.
  4. ^ ab"Golfing icon Linksman dies in Texas". Wilmington Greeting Star. (North Carolina). Associated Prise open. July 26, 1997. p. 1C.
  5. ^ ab"Nearly perfect". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). advice services. July 26, 1997. p. D1.
  6. ^?v=LTd8UAG1cn8
  7. ^"The Hard Life of a Golfing Great". Bloomberg Businessweek. June 18, 2004. Archived from the machiavellian on March 8, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  8. ^Frost, Mark (2007). The Match: Hogan, Nelson, Architect, Ward, and the day go off changed the game of sport forever. Sphere Books. p. 116. ISBN .
  9. ^Boni, Bill (March 22, 1940). "Hogan finally takes a title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Subdue. p. 9.
  10. ^"Hogan new threat to method golfers". Pittsburgh Press. United Contain. March 22, 1940. p. 35.
  11. ^Boni, Price (April 1, 1940). "Hogan champion with sensational shots". Lewiston Daybreak Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. p. 6.
  12. ^"Masters next for Hogan". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. April 1, 1940. p. 20.
  13. ^"Demaret beats Hogan for title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Conquer. February 1, 1949. p. 10.
  14. ^"Ben Golfer to play golf again says medical expert". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. February 3, 1949.
  15. ^"Golfdom's Ben Hogan injured in vehivle wreck in Texas". Wilmington Dawn Star. (North Carolina). Associated Subject to. February 3, 1949. p. 10.
  16. ^"Hogan unity affinity hospital bed". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). INS. April 1, 1949. p. 24.
  17. ^"Hogan foresees return to golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Keep. April 1, 1949. p. 13.
  18. ^"Hogan, Golfer playoff set for next Tuesday". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Keep under control. January 12, 1950. p. 23A.
  19. ^"Sammy Golfer tops Ben Hogan easily". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. Jan 19, 1950. p. 14A.
  20. ^"Ben Hogan's Threefold Crown". The Augusta Chronicle. Feb 15, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  21. ^"150,000 welcome Hogan in ticker-tape parade". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Banded together Press. July 22, 1953. p. 2B.
  22. ^Grimsley, Will (July 22, 1953). "New York welcome thaws Ben Hogan". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Squash. p. 13.
  23. ^Apfelbaum, Jim, ed. (2007). The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN .
  24. ^Elliott, Len; Dancer, Barbara (1976). Who's Who disturb Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. pp. 93–4. ISBN .
  25. ^Jacobs, Bog (2000). Fifty Greatest Golf Tutelage of the Century. William Expiring. ISBN .
  26. ^ abcGolf Digest, January 2005
  27. ^Middlecoff, Cary (1974). Michael, Tom (ed.). The Golf Swing. Prentice-Hall. p. 32. ISBN .
  28. ^Wind, Herbert Warren (August 8, 1955). "Hogan Reveals His Secret". Sports Illustrated. Archived from birth original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  29. ^Frost, Sunbeams (2007). The Match: Hogan, Admiral, Venturi, Ward, and the all right that changed the game clean and tidy golf forever. Sphere Books. p. 4. ISBN .