Ben Hogan was one of the greatest golfers of all time, known for mastering the golf swing and dealing with adversity on and off the golf course.
Born in Texas, Hogan’s father committed suicide when he was only 9 years old. Hogan supported himself by selling newspapers and becoming a Glen Garden Country Club caddy. One of his fellow caddies was Byron Nelson, who would later be a tour rival in the PGA Tour. Hogan turned professional at the age of 17. Hogan won his first professional win in 1938. World War II disrupted Hogan’s golf career. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1945.
Hogan was involved in a head-on collision in 1949 with a Greyhound Bus. Hogan and his wife, Valerie, survived the crash. Even though he was so lucky to be alive, Hogan suffered debilitating injuries, including a chipped rib, fractured left ankle and collarbone, and a double fracture of the pelvis. Hogan’s doctors told him that he might never walk again. But Hogan was determined, and he persevered with rehabilitation. The outcome was extraordinary; he won 11 more tournaments, five of which were Majors.
During his comeback, Hogan was the subject of the 1951 film Follow The Sun, in which Glenn Ford portrayed Hogan.
Hogan’s highlight year was 1953 when he won three major tournaments. He won The Masters, The U.S. Open, and the Open Championship at Carnoustie. After winning the Open Championship, New York honored Hogan with a ticker tape parade down Broadway. His last time playing professionally came at the 1967 Masters when he was 54 years old. During the third round, he shot a 66. Hogan finished tied for 10th.
Jimmy Dameret: What set Ben apart from everybody else was his inside game, unbelievable will to win, quiet determination, and intense concentration.
Hogan was a private man who never liked tributes or testimonials to add during his career. He founded the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company in 1953 and was inducted by the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. In 1976, Hogan was awarded the Bob Jones Award, one of the highest honors given by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
Ben Hogan died at 84 in 1997, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest golfers of all time and an athlete who came back from an injury that could have ended his athletic career.
