Full Answer
Was Ben Hogan the most surly professional golfer ever?
William Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He is notable for his profound influence on golf swing theory and his legendary ball-striking ability.
Is Ben Hogan the greatest golfer of all time?
William Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He is notable for his profound influence on golf swing theory and his legendary ball-striking ability.
What kind of clubs did Ben Hogan use?
“Butter knife” is the nickname for the 1-iron, the historically significant but now practically extinct club. The club with which players such as Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus hit legendary shots in major tournaments has largely been replaced by modern equipment, including hybrids and fairway woods, which are more forgiving clubs.
How many wins does Ben Hogan have?
Hogan won two other PGA Tour events in 1953 and one last one in 1959, naturally at Colonial. His 64 wins are good for fourth on the PGA Tour’s all-time victory list and his nine major championships also rank fourth (tied with Player). After nearly losing his life at age 36, Ben Hogan lived to be 84 years old before passing away on July 25, 1997.
Is Ben Hogan still owned by Callaway?
Callaway, which purchased the company at auction in September 2003 for $174.4 million, retained the rights to those names as well as some others after selling the Ben Hogan brand to Perry Ellis in 2012. Some, however, transferred over to Perry Ellis and can be used.
What company owns Ben Hogan golf?
CallawayCallaway Purchases Ben Hogan Golf Equipment In 2003 Callaway purchased Ben Hogan Golf Equipment and began selling Hogan's line of products under the Callaway name. Callaway still sells Apex irons, which were originally created by Hogan in 1972 and were among the most popular irons on Tour in the 1970s.
What club did Ben Hogan belong to?
Hogan passed away more than two decades ago, but he still plays a large role in the PGA TOUR's annual stop at Colonial Country Club.
Do any pro golfers use Ben Hogan clubs?
Hit a shot using Ben Hogan's clubs. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Max Homa and Sam Burns were up for the challenge.
Are Ben Hogan clubs still made?
Unlike many larger golf equipment companies, we still design, assemble and ship our products in the United States. We think it's important to use the same basic manufacturing techniques that Ben Hogan pioneered in his original factory …
Who inherited Ben Hogan's estate?
“He loved the Riviera; he loved playing the course,” said Scott, who inherited Hogan's estate along with her brother, Sean Anderson.
Who started Shady Oaks Country Club?
Mr. Marvin LeonardShady Oaks Country Club's founder is Mr. Marvin Leonard. Mr. Leonard was one of Fort Worth's best known businessmen, known as the Texas Merchant.
Who is the statue Colonial Country Club?
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - From a 7-foot bronze statue looking over the golf course, to a clubhouse full of memorabilia... it's hard to miss nods to Ben Hogan throughout Colonial Country Club.
How far could Ben Hogan hit a golf ball?
265 yardsBen Hogan hit his driver 265 yards, according to an article in the June 10, 1949 issue of Time Magazine. Even 15 years later he still hit drives that distance in a Shell's Wonderful World of Golf match against the equally long-hitting Sam Snead.
Are Ben Hogan clubs good?
Performance. Much like the feel, the performance of the Ben Hogan Icon irons is good and almost exactly what I expected. Designed for the better player, these irons have higher spin so shots can be shaped left or right and will hold a green. When hit on center, the ball speed and distance are adequate.
Are Ben Hogan icon irons blades?
Icon Irons Overview They are forged muscle-back blades made with an emphasis on shot-making. They are designed to appeal to more accomplished players with a compact clubhead, thin topline & sole, minimal offset, and clean elegant design.
What happened to Ben Hogan golf clubs?
After Hogan's death in 1997, the company strayed from its roots as an elite club maker. It went through a succession of owners after Hogan sold it to AMF in 1960. Callaway purchased the company out of bankruptcy from Top-Flite Golf for $125 million in 2003. Five years later, it ceased production of golf clubs.
Who is Ben Hogan?
our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated May 24, 2019. Ben Hogan is one of the giants of golf history, a steely perfectionist on the course whose career included a remarkable comeback from a horrific auto accident. Date of birth: Aug. 13, 1912.
When did Hogan start playing golf?
Hogan turned pro in 1929, at age 17, to play pro events in Texas. He didn't join the PGA Tour until 1932. Much of his early career, Hogan battled a hook. But through a tremendous work ethic, he changed his game to a controlled fade (in his famous words, he "dug it out of the dirt").
How many events did Ben Hogan play on the PGA Tour?
Biography of Ben Hogan. In 292 career PGA Tour events, Ben Hogan finished in the Top 3 in 47.6-percent of them. He finished in the Top 10 in 241 of those 292 events. Hogan was born near Fort Worth in 1912. Hogan and Byron Nelson were childhood acquaintances, caddying at the same Fort Worth club.
What was Ben Hogan's first major?
Ben Hogan's first PGA Tour event was the 1932 Los Angeles Open. He finished tied for 13th place, earning a $50 paycheck. Hogan won 30 tournaments before winning his first major (1946 PGA Championship). That's the record for most wins prior to a first major. Three locations in the golf world are nicknamed Hogan's Alley because ...
How many majors did Ben Hogan play?
From 1946 to 1953, Hogan won nine of the 16 majors he played. Hogan brought his same quest for perfection to the golf clubs made by the company that bore his name, and Ben Hogan Golf produced many of the finest clubs available over the years. His demeanor on the course was quiet and focused.
How many times did Hogan win the PGA?
He missed a couple years on Tour due to World War II, but returned full-time in 1946 and won 13 times, including his first major, the 1946 PGA Championship. From August 1945 to February 1949, Hogan won 37 times.
Why is Hogan's Alley called Hogan's Alley?
Three locations in the golf world are nicknamed Hogan's Alley because of Hogan's success there. The PGA Tour's developmental tour, later called the Nationwide Tour and Web.com Tour, was originally named the Ben Hogan Tour when it was founded in 1990. There are two Ben Hogan Awards in golf.
Personal
Began caddying at age 12 at Glen Garden CC along with a fellow caddie the same age, Byron Nelson.
Career Highlights
Ben Hogan Room: The USGA opened the Ben Hogan Room in its museum in Far Hills, N.J., the first time that organization had dedicated a room there to a specific professional golfer.
Who owns Ben Hogan golf equipment?
In 2003 Callaway purchased Ben Hogan Golf Equipment and began selling Hogan’s line of products under the Callaway name. Callaway still sells Apex irons, which were originally created by Hogan in 1972 and were among the most popular irons on Tour in the 1970s. “It’s a little strange.
Who is the sponsor of the Ben Hogan Golf Tour?
The Ben Hogan Company was the initial sponsor of the Ben Hogan Golf Tour, which later became the Nationwide Tour. The tour was started in 1990 and became the training ground for future PGA professionals. PGA stars Tom Lehman, John Daly and Jeff Maggert all earned their way onto the PGA Tour by way of the Ben Hogan Tour.
What is Ben Hogan's best selling iron?
The Ben Hogan Company has always been known for its quality irons. The Hogan Apex irons were created in 1972 and became the most-played irons by PGA Tour players for the next few years. In 1989, the company introduced the Edge irons, which became the company's best-selling iron. With a specific design for improving mis-hits, the Edge irons were the first Hogan irons to be considered "game improvement" irons.
How many majors did Hogan win?
Hogan was one of the greatest golfers in history, with nine major championships and 64 PGA Tour wins to his credit. No golfer racks up that many wins without an incredible swing, and Hogan’s was one for the ages.
When did Ben Hogan start his company?
The Ben Hogan Company began operations in 1953, when Ben partnered with Marvin Leonard and Pollard Simon. Hogan's vision for his company was to provide the same quality equipment to amateurs that professionals used. In 1954, the Ben Hogan Company released its first set of irons, and the next year Jack Fleck won the U.S. Open playing Ben Hogan irons.
Who bought Ben Hogan golf clubs?
The company changed hands again in 2004, when it was purchased by the Callaway Golf Company. Ben Hogan golf clubs can now be bought through Callaway Golf Pre-Owned and select retailers.
When did Hogan die?
During this time, Hogan himself passed away in 1998. His worldwide appeal and the fact that many of his philosophies are still present in Hogan equipment innovations, help the company’s success to this day.
Did you know?
Hogan was one of the greatest golfers of all time, known for his determination, concentration, superb ball-striking ability and perfectionist approach to the game. Between 1938-59 he accumulated 64 PGA Tour wins.
Top tournaments won by Ben Hogan
Played as the Colonial National Invitation (Apr 30-May 3, 5). 47-year-old Ben Hogan (USA) beat Fred Hawkins (USA) by 4 shots in an 18-hole Tuesday playoff (Hogan 69, Hawkins 73). This was the last of Hogan's five Colonial National wins, and the last of his 64 victories on the PGA Tour. [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].
Hogan's Golf Swing
If you have ever watched Ben Hogan's golf swing you instantly know that you’re watching poetry in motion. From anyone who has ever attempted to swing a golf club, to the top touring professionals in the world, Hogan’s swing is viewed as masterful.
The End Result
It’s important to note that Ben Hogan was only 5-feet-9 inches tall, and weighed around 145 pounds. The mechanics of his golf swing, while viewed as nearly perfect, also helped him achieve impact and distance that someone of his stature didn’t have naturally.
Sam Snead
Quite possibly the biggest competition to the Ben Hogan golf swing is Sam Snead. If you watch Snead hit the golf ball you’ll find some equally as impressive traits in his golf swing. It was often reported that Snead would hit 300 yard drives over and over, many times without missing a single fairway.
Tiger Woods
It’s hard to come across a golf-related list of anything great that does not include Tiger Woods. The fact that Tiger’s career is recent memory and many golfers today did not watch Snead, let alone Hogan, swing a golf club, many will hand over the award for greatest swing to Woods.
The Verdict
The easy answer to the greatest golf swing of all time is Ben Hogan. It’s also not wrong, necessarily. However, everyone’s eyes can catch a golf swing in a different way, so it’s nice to have comparisons. Snead, Woods, and Wright are all worthy of consideration.
About the Author
Todd Mrowice is a Staff Writer for GolfLink. He has been writing about golf for over 10 years including a long tenure at GOLFChicago Magazine. Todd has covered all aspects of the game including travel, products, business, and professional tours.
PGA Tour Developmental Tours
For years prior to the establishment of an official developmental tour with the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990, there had been unofficial-money tournaments for PGA Tour players who didn't get into or couldn't qualify for the main PGA Tour events. These were loosely organized and were known by various names, including Monday Tour and Second Tour.
Top Golfers on the Ben Hogan Tour
Only three full seasons — 1990, 1991 and 1992 — were played under the name Ben Hogan Tour. These were the top players on the tour in each of those years.
Overview
Hogan's golf swing
Ben Hogan is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest ball strikers who ever played golf. Although he had a formidable record with 64 PGA tour victories, it is Hogan's ball-striking ability that mostly underpins his modern reputation.
Hogan was known to practice more than any of his contemporary golfers and is said to have "invented practice". On this matter, Hogan himself said, "You hear stories about me beating my b…
Early life and character
Hogan was born in Stephenville, Texas, the third and youngest child of Chester and Clara (Williams) Hogan. His father was a blacksmith and the family lived ten miles (16 km) southwest in Dublin until 1921, when they moved seventy miles (110 km) northeast to Fort Worth. When Hogan was nine years old in 1922, his father Chester committed suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot at the family home. By some accounts, Chester committed suicide in front of him, which some (inc…
Turns professional
Hogan dropped out of Central High School during the final semester of his senior year. He turned pro in the golf industry six months shy of his 18th birthday at the Texas Open in San Antonio, in late January 1930. Hogan met Valerie Fox in Sunday school in Fort Worth in the mid-1920s, and they reacquainted in 1932 when he landed a low-paying club pro job in Cleburne, where her family had moved. They married in April 1935 at her parents' home.
Career-threatening accident
During Hogan's prime years of 1938 through 1959, he won 63 professional golf tournaments despite the interruption of his career by World War II and a near-fatal car accident. Hogan served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from March 1943 to June 1945; he was stationed locally at Fort Worth and became a utility pilot with the rank of lieutenant.
Driving home to Fort Worth after a Monday playoff loss at the 1949 Phoenix Open, Hogan and hi…
The "Triple Crown" season
The win at Carnoustie was only a part of Hogan's watershed 1953 season, a year in which he won five of the six tournaments he entered, including three major championships (a feat known as the Triple Crown of Golf).
It still stands among the greatest single seasons in the history of professional golf. Hogan, 40, was unable to enter—and possibly win—the 1953 PGA Championship (to complete the Grand Slam) …
"Five Lessons" and golf instruction
Hogan believed that a solid, repeatable golf swing involved only a few essential elements, which, when performed correctly and in sequence, were the essence of the swing. His book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf (written with Herbert Warren Wind) is perhaps the most widely read golf tutorial ever written, although Harvey Penick's Little Red Book would also have a claim to th…
Playing style
Hogan is widely acknowledged to have been one of the finest ball strikers that ever played the game.
Hogan's ball striking has also been described as being of near miraculous caliber by other very knowledgeable observers such as Jack Nicklaus, who only saw him play some years after his prime. Nicklaus once responded to the question, "Is Tiger Woods the best ball striker you have ev…
Hogan's Victories
Awards and Honors For Ben Hogan
Quote, Unquote
Ben Hogan Trivia
Biography of Ben Hogan
- In 292 career PGA Tour events, Ben Hogan finished in the Top 3 in 47.6-percent of them. He finished in the Top 10 in 241 of those 292 events. Hogan was born near Fort Worth in 1912. Hogan and Byron Nelson were childhood acquaintances, caddying at the same Fort Worth club. They even squared off one year for the club's caddiechampionship (Nelson won)...
Hogan's Instructional Books
List of Ben Hogan's PGA Tour Wins