Countdown to the Masters 2011 – Day 41: Hogan’s staggering win in 1953
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Welcome to Day 41 of the Today’s Golfer Countdown to The Masters 2011. Every day from February 17th until the big day when the season’s first Major tees off, April 7th, we will be bringing you some of our favourite memorable moments from The Masters since the tournament started in 1934.
Ben Hogan had won the Masters two years earlier in 1951, when he shot a bogeyless final round of 68 for a two-shot victory. But it was his victory in 1953 which broke all the records. Commentators said at the time that his four rounds of 70, 69, 66, 69 – 274 represented the best 72 hole stretch of golf ever played by anyone anywhere.
1953 was a special year for the son of a Texas blacksmith. He played in only seven tournaments, but won five of them. What’s more, his victory came after his horrific car crash, when his Cadillac collided with a Greyhound bus. After that accident, many said he was lucky to escape with his life. Doctors who saw him afterwards, and diagnosed a double-fracture of his pelvis, a fractured collar bone, a left ankle fracture, a chipped rib and near-fatal blood clots said unanimously that he would never walk again, let alone play competitive golf.
And so, for him to come back and beat the best players in the world round Augusta National, by five shots; and then go on and win the US Open and the Open Championship at Carnoustie in the same year, was an astonishing achievement.
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