The truth that Ben Hogan even performed within the 1950 US Open at Merion is unbelievable, as 16 months earlier he nearly died in a automotive crash. That he gained is past perception. It is an incredible story and cemented Hogan as a {golfing} legend.
Ben Hogan was one thing of a late bloomer as an expert golfer. Born in 1912, simply months after Byron Nelson and Sam Snead, the early a part of Hogan’s profession was powerful compared to his well-known rivals, each of whom had gained greater than ten tournaments by the point Hogan claimed his first.
Hogan turned professional in 1930 on the age of 17, a yr earlier than Snead and two years earlier than Nelson, but it surely wasn’t till 1940 that the Texan gained his first particular person skilled occasion. He spent his first years within the paid ranks as a poorly remunerated membership professional and greater than as soon as discovered himself flat broke. However he had nice assist from his woman, and from 1935 spouse, Valerie, who at all times believed in him. With out her assist he might need been inclined to throw within the towel.
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
However he persevered and, after that first victory, the floodgates opened. Hogan gained a minimum of 4 occasions on the circuit yearly he performed between 1940 and 1948 (he served as a US Military Air Forces pilot stationed at Fort Value between 1943 and 1945). In 1948, Hogan established himself because the dominant determine on the US skilled scene. He gained an unbelievable ten tournaments, together with the US Open and the USPGA Championship.
The next yr appeared set to be one other belting season for ‘The Hawk’. Initially of 1949, he gained the Bing Crosby Professional-Am and the Lengthy Seashore Open in a play-off in opposition to Jimmy Demaret. Amazingly, he had gained 11 instances in 15 begins. The next week within the Phoenix Open, Hogan as soon as once more discovered himself in an 18-hole play-off with Demaret, one which he narrowly misplaced.
However the play-off was vital because it delayed the Hogans’ drive residence to Fort Value by 24 hours. If that hadn’t occurred, they may not have confronted foggy, and probably icy, circumstances on the excessive street between Van Horn and Kent, and so they wouldn’t have encountered impatient Greyhound bus driver Alvin Logan who determined to try to overtake a lorry on a blind nook and ploughed headlong into their Cadillac.
When Ben noticed the headlights coming in the direction of him, and there was no approach of avoiding collision, he threw himself over Valerie’s lap to guard her from the influence. He did so successfully, and she or he suffered no critical damage. He, nevertheless, didn’t fare so effectively: a damaged pelvis, collarbone, ankle and crushed rib plus a number of cuts and bruises.
Seeing the situation of the wrecked automotive, early eyewitness reviews steered Hogan had died. He hadn’t, however he wasn’t in fine condition. Fellow professional Herman Keiser went to see him the next day and on first sight believed his colleague wasn’t going to make it. He was given extra trigger for optimism when Hogan managed to whisper a couple of phrases: “Herman, would you test on my golf equipment?”
Ben Hogan completed his profession with 9 Main titles
Regardless of the severity of his accidents, Hogan made good progress in his restoration. However issues have been set again significantly when he suffered a blood clot that required emergency surgical procedure and left him together with his largest vein, the vena cava, completely closed. Hogan was consigned to a lifetime of poor blood circulation to his legs. He would have extreme issue strolling, not to mention enjoying, 18 holes.
Highway to restoration
He was a person of unbelievable willpower, although, and possessed a profound need to get again to the game he had labored so onerous to forge a profession in. He was chipping and placing by Might 1949 and it will later emerge that he had despatched a pre-emptive entry type for the 1949 US Open, though there was no probability of him recovering sufficiently to make it. In late 1949 Hogan captained an understrength US Ryder Cup crew to victory at Ganton and, on his return from the UK, he started to hit full pictures.
Regardless of this, many believed Hogan would by no means play competitively once more. In December Jimmy Demaret instructed the press on the Miami Open he felt Hogan wouldn’t make a comeback. A month later, Demaret was enjoying with Hogan in apply for the Los Angeles Open.
Extremely, regardless of having been away from competitors for nearly a yr, Hogan completed 4 rounds at Riviera in a tie for first place with Sam Snead. Though he misplaced the 18-hole play-off, it was an exceptional effort for a person who may nonetheless barely stroll these 18 holes.
By the point of the 1950 US Open at historic Merion, there was little doubt that Hogan was again and will nonetheless be aggressive – he had completed in a tie for fourth at The Masters and gained the unofficial Greenbrier Professional-Am by ten pictures. He was mentally prepared, however would his physique stand as much as the rigours of a US Open round a particularly troublesome golf course?
Earlier than every spherical at Merion, Hogan soaked for an hour in a scorching bathtub stuffed with Epsom Salts. After that he wrapped every leg in bandages (which diminished the swelling however made him extraordinarily scorching within the sweltering circumstances) after which took Aspirin to boring the ache. However he tried to maintain the discomfort to himself, as he didn’t wish to present weak spot.
In spherical one, Hogan opened with a two-over-par 72. It left him in a tie for 18th, absolutely eight pictures behind unattached, unknown professional Lee Mackey from Alabama. Mackey shot a tournament-record 64 and was swamped with requests for interviews by newspaper and radio. The strain of being thrust into the limelight proved an excessive amount of for Mackey and he adopted up with an 81. He light again into obscurity and performed simply twice extra within the US Open.
Hogan moved within the different route in spherical two. His 69 put him simply two pictures off PGA Tour stalwart Dutch Harrison’s lead on the midway stage. Nonetheless, his legs have been cramping terribly and he confronted 36 holes the next day. It later emerged he instructed Valerie he feared he could be unable to complete.
Defying the ache
Hogan had a traditional swing
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Fortunately for Hogan, given his laborious pre-round preparations, his third-round tee time was 9.30 (the primary gamers went out at 8.00). If he had began first, he would have needed to rise up at about 4am.
After spherical three, Hogan was nonetheless two pictures off the tempo following a battling 72. Now it was Lloyd Mangrum who headed the pack after a tremendous 69 put him one-over-par. Mangrum had gained the 1946 US Open and been a prolific winner on the PGA Tour. He had additionally performed twice within the Ryder Cup. Harrison was one again after a 73 and defending champion Cary Middlecoff was tied with Hogan on three over.
On the fringes of rivalry, six pictures again, was a much less well-known participant known as George Fazio. The Pennsylvanian had by no means completed higher than tied for twenty fifth within the US Open. The scrap-metal seller and future course architect acquired little consideration because the gamers took their breaks between rounds.
However, amongst the early starters in spherical 4, Fazio started solidly with six straight pars. He dropped one on the seventh however acquired it again to even par on the again 9. He floor out a level-par 70 for a four-round complete of seven-over-par. It appeared to be a very good effort however certainly a goal the leaders would higher.
It didn’t occur. Mangrum made a horrible begin, going out in 41. He appeared spent, however he composed himself considerably on the again 9 and got here again in 35 for a 76 and a four-round rating of 287 – tied with Fazio.
Harrison additionally stumbled to a 76 and Middlecoff fell away with a 79. It was right down to Hogan. The Hawk made the flip in 37 and, at four-over-par, was three forward. However he dropped pictures on the twelfth and fifteenth. Hogan’s legs had seized up a lot that he couldn’t bend down to select his ball out of the outlet. When one other stroke went on the seventeenth, Hogan appeared to be in hassle. He wanted par at Merion’s notoriously troublesome 18th gap to hitch Mangrum and Fazio in a play-off.
He performed a very good tee shot on the 457-yard gap, however was left with over 200 yards for his second. He thought-about a 4-wood however settled on a 1-iron. He proceeded to hit some of the iconic pictures in golf’s historical past – an impressive stroke that ended on the inexperienced and arrange a two-putt par. Defying the ache, Hogan had tied Mangrum and Fazio. The competitors could be determined by an 18-hole play-off the next day.
Those that knew the extent of the discomfort Hogan was in would certainly have doubted whether or not he had the power to ship the products in one other spherical at Merion. However Hogan was made from extremely stern stuff. He performed a superb spherical of 69 to beat Mangrum by 4 and Fazio by six. The Texan had accomplished his exceptional comeback: from close to demise to nationwide champion within the area of 16 months. It stays some of the unbelievable sporting achievements.
