Ben Hogan

Golf demands extraordinary technical precision, strategic course management and the mental strength to perform under the pressure of major competition.

William Ben Hogan was born in Stephenville, Texas in 1912 and won 9 major championships and 64 PGA Tour titles — a record of consistency that places him alongside Nicklaus and Woods as the three finest golfers in history. His majors: Masters (1951, 1953), US Open (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953), The Open Championship (1953) and PGA Championship (1946, 1948). In 1953 he won 3 majors in a single season — the Masters, US Open and Open Championship — becoming the first and only player to win 3 majors in a calendar year; he could not attempt the PGA Championship as it overlapped with The Open. He won 64 PGA Tour events. His career was interrupted by a near-fatal head-on collision with a Greyhound bus in February 1949 — doctors doubted he would walk again. He returned 16 months later to win the 1950 US Open at Merion in an 18-hole playoff, completing one of sport's most celebrated recoveries. His The Open Championship victory in 1953 at Carnoustie — his only appearance in the event — was won by 4 shots with a then-championship record score. He is credited with developing the concept of course management and the modern concept of the professional golf swing — his book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf is still in print.

Precise, methodical approach with exceptional ball-striking

Considered one of golf's greatest players and swing technicians

• Masters 1951, 1953
• US Open 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
• The Open Championship 1953 (only appearance)
• PGA Championship 1946, 1948
• PGA Tour money leader 5x
• 1953 — won 3 majors in single season
• Return from near-fatal car crash 1949