Ben Hogan (Golfer) - On This Day

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Profession: Golfer

Biography: Ben Hogan was one of the greatest golfers in history. He won nine major championships and 64 PGA Tour events during his career.

Hogan's early life was marked by hardship. His father died by suicide when Hogan was nine years old. As a young man, Hogan struggled to make a living as a professional golfer, going broke several times before winning his first tournament in 1940.

In 1949, Hogan and his wife Valerie were involved in a near-fatal car accident. Hogan shielded his wife from the impact, saving her life but suffering severe injuries himself. Doctors doubted he would ever walk again, let alone play golf.

Hogan made a remarkable comeback. He returned to competitive golf and won the U.S. Open in 1950, just 16 months after the accident. In 1953, Hogan achieved his "Triple Crown" season, winning the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

Known for his perfectionism, Hogan had a significant impact on golf technique. He wrote "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf" (1957), a book that influenced many future golfers. Certain courses, like Colonial Country Club and Riviera Country Club, became known as "Hogan's Alley" due to his frequent success there.

In 1953, Hogan founded the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company and his legacy lives on through this equipment as well as the Ben Hogan Award, given annually to the best college golfer in the United States.

Born: August 13, 1912
Birthplace: Stephenville, Texas, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Leo

Died: July 25, 1997 (aged 84)
Cause of Death: Stroke

Playing Career

  • 1942-04-13 9th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Byron Nelson wins an 18-hole playoff by 1 stroke over runner-up Ben Hogan
  • 1946-04-07 10th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: American Herman Keiser wins his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of tour money-leader Ben Hogan; first Masters in 4 years because of World War II
  • 1946-08-25 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Portland GC: Ben Hogan beats Ed Oliver, 6 & 4 for first of his 9 major titles
  • 1946-09-02 American golfer Ben Hogan wins the Golden State Open at California CC in Los Angeles; his 3rd consecutive PGA event and 11th title of the season; 2nd time that year he wins 3 straight tournaments
  • 1947-11-02 Ryder Cup Golf, Portland GC: US wins first post WWII event, 11-1; Ben Hogan American captain; Henry Cotton GB skipper
  • 1948-05-25 30th PGA Championship Men's Golf, Norwood Hills CC: Ben Hogan scores a convincing 7 & 6 win over Mike Turnesa in the Tuesday final for his 2nd PGA crown
  • 1948-06-12 US Open Men's Golf, Riviera CC: Ben Hogan dominates final 2 rounds, shooting 68-69, 2 shots ahead of runner-up Jimmy Demaret; third of his 9 major titles
  • 1949-02-02 American golfing champ Ben Hogan seriously injured in an auto accident
  • 1950-06-11 50th US Open Men's Golf, Merion GC: 16 months after being severely injured in an auto accident, Ben Hogan beats Lloyd Mangrum by 4 shots and George Fazio by 6 in an 18-hole playoff; the "Miracle at Merion"
  • 1951-04-07 15th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Hogan wins the first of his 2 Masters titles, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Skee Riegel
  • 1951-06-16 US Open Men's Golf, Oakland Hills CC: Ben Hogan wins his second consecutive US Open title, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Clayton Heafner.
  • 1953-04-12 17th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Hogan shatters the Masters scoring record by 5 strokes with a 274 (−14) to finish 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Ed Oliver; Hogan's second Masters
  • 1953-06-13 US Open Men's Golf, Oakmont CC: Ben Hogan wins a record-tying 4th US Open title, 6 strokes ahead of runner-up Sam Snead
  • 1953-07-10 British Open Men's Golf, Carnoustie: In his only Open Championship appearance, Ben Hogan prevails by 4 strokes over Dai Rees, Antonio Cerdá, Peter Thomson, Frank Stranahan
  • 1954-04-12 18th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his 3rd and final Masters by 1 stroke in an 18-hole playoff with Ben Hogan
  • 1955-04-10 19th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Cary Middlecoff wins by a record 7 strokes ahead of Ben Hogan
  • 1955-06-19 US Open Men's Golf, Olympic CC: Jack Fleck wins an 18-hole playoff by 3 strokes to claim his only major title and deny Ben Hogan a record fifth US Open title
  • 1956-06-16 US Open Men's Golf, Oak Hill CC: Cary Middlecoff wins his second Open title, 1 stroke ahead of runners-up Julius Boros and Ben Hogan
  • 1967-10-22 Ryder Cup Golf, Champions GC: US beats Great Britain 23½-8½; Ben Hogan captains Americans to record 15-point victory margin
  • 1989-06-18 US Open Men's Golf, Oak Hill CC: Curtis Strange wins by 3 from Scott Simpson for first back-to-back Open titles since Ben Hogan 1950-51
  • 2000-08-20 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Valhalla GC: Tiger Woods wins back-to-back PGA titles after a three-hole playoff with Bob May, becoming the first to win three majors in a calendar year since Ben Hogan in 1953

Personal Life

  • 1935-04-14 PGA golfer Ben Hogan (22) weds Valerie Fox in Cleburne, Texas

References


Famous Golfers

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