I suggest that the list of qualities that determines golf greatness includes not only athleticism and record, but also humility, focus, determination, and guts. Tiger is maybe the only current player on the short list. Nelson, Nicklaus, and Jones also make the cut. Watson, Trevino, Palmer, Player, Snead, and Sarazen miss the cut by a stroke.
My vote for the champion golfer is Ben Hogan. In this video, his pride, devotion, honesty and work ethic are palpable. The audio is out of sync with the video, but it's still a compelling piece that I could watch many times over. He was not a Hollywood pretty boy like Jimmy Demaret, did not have the charm of Palmer or Nelson, nor the pure athletic ability of Snead. But he had more of everything than all the others.
Nelson's 11 straight and 18 total victories in 1945 receive more homage. But after a near fatal auto accident in 1948 in which his legs were crushed, Mr. Hogan won all 5 of the tournaments he entered in 1953, including the Masters, the US Open and the British Open. He didn't play in the PGA because it was held immediately after the British Open. Plus, the PGA ended in those days with 36 holes of match play on the final day; Mr. Hogan's brittle legs could not survive such punishment.
Bobby Jones was more admired, Nelson more liked, Nicklaus more accomplished. But none were more respected than Mr. Hogan. None ever will be.
Some Hogan items;
ReplyDeleteEven into his 50s, Hogan was as good a tee to green player as there was on the PGA--he never lost his superb ball striking ability. The yipps, though, did him in--awful to watch.
Even into older age, Hogan would spend hours on the range, striping balls to whatever spot he picked out.
A guy I used to know, had some encounters with Hogan. He used to drive a cart to one of the par 3s at Shady Oaks(?) and watch the players tee off. My friend played there several times and saw Hogan on both ocassions. Hogan would make comments after a notable shot to the green and was a little tight from nipping from the flask he had with him.
Hogan had his own table at the club's grill. To be asked to sit with him was a real big deal--mostly he sat alone.