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William Ben Hogan('The Hawk' - 'Wee Ice Mon' - 'The Iceman')(unofficial)golf home | Ben Hogan | Bobby Jones | Jack Niklaus | Gary Player | Gene Sarazen | Tiger Woods Born 13th August 1912 in Dublin, Texas. Died 25th July 1997. Ben Hogan was the second player to achieve the Grand Slam of Majors. He began a sequence of tournament wins in 1938 winning the Hershey Four-Ball. His first Major win followed in 1946 with the PGA Championship * at Portland GC in Oregon (and again in 1948 at Norwood CC in St Louis). The US Open followed in 1948 (and again in 1950, 1951 & 1953), closely followed by the US Masters in 1951 (and 1953). 1953 produced his only British Open victory. This was his last major but did complete the Grand Slam of Golf. Notably only Hogan and Tiger Woods have achieved three Majors wins in the same year - Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000 (2001 achieved Grand Slam holding all four Majors consecutively). Arguably Bobby Jones 'old' Grand Slam certainly bears good comparison. In 1953 the US PGA tournament and the British Open overlapped - what might have been had this not been the case? Being one of three children brought up by his mother, owing to the suicide of his his father when Hogan was still a child, his start in life could not be described as easy. Doing part time jobs, including caddying, to earn a crust and help with the family income he did not immediately come into golf. At first becoming a bank clerk, he later gave that job up to start on a career as a professional golfer. From a difficult beginning a determined and single-minded approach to life and golf resulted in the nickname of 'The Iceman'. It was this focussed approach that instilled in him the need to practise and improve his golfing ability. So much so that by the beginning of WW2 he was the best golfer on the American circuit. Following a break during those war years he began to pick up where he had left off winning, the first of his nine majors, in the PGA Tournament. 1948 saw a repeat success in the PGA and his first US Open. A serious car accident in 1949 looked to have been the end of his illustrious career. The likelihood of his being able to walk again was in doubt. However, The Iceman strengths and determination showed through, and so began the recovery and chapter two of his great career. His sole British Open win at Carnoustie, not the easiest of courses, was well deserved. Hogan's clean and positive style - playing carefully and attacking where appropriate left the Scots in awe of a man they dubbed 'Wee Ice Mon'. This win completed the Grand Slam, some 18 years after Gene Sarazen had first achieved the challenge. 'The Hawk' was derived from the Hogan glare that was possibly a result of his difficult early years and determined but positive approach to his life. In Hogan was a man who knew the meaning and benefits of practice, the need to be a true professional. A very private man who set the standards for golfers of the future. Reportedly, when asked by Nick Faldo how to win the US Open he replied 'Shoot the lowest score!'
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