Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan was a slow starter. He turned professional in 1931 but it took seven years for him to win his first tournament. But in the years after the War he was indisputably the finest golfer in the world and at his peak one of the best there has ever been. Hogan won his first major title, the USPGA, in 1946. He won it again in 1948 and in that year he also won the US Open. In February 1949 he had a horrific car accident and was so badly injured that he was at first told he would never walk again, let alone play golf. Hogan thought differently: slowly he rebuilt his shattered body and then in 1950 he started to play golf again. His comeback was remarkable; he won the US Open that year and the following year both the US Open and the Masters, a double he repeated in 1953. In 1953 he decided to play in the Open, even though he was a most reluctant traveler, and it was the only time he played in that event. The Championship was held that year at Carnoustie, which is arguably the toughest of all British championship courses. Neither Hogan nor the crowds of American journalists who followed their hero had ever seen anything like it. Hogan opened with a 73 and then progressively shot 71, 70 and 68 for victory. No man, before or since, has ever won three of the major titles in the same year. If the USPGA had not still been a match-play event played over 36 holes a day he would probably have won that as well, but he did not enter as he thought it would be too much of a strain on his injured legs. Although Hogan continued playing, he never again touched such heights and his putting started to give him trouble. He remains, however, one of the greatest players of all time and perhaps the finest striker of a golf ball there has ever been.