masters96.com: Hogan's A Hero

The Augusta Chronicle

Sports Illustrated

Hogan's A Hero
1951

Hogan made up for the disaster of 1946.
photograph by UPI/Bettmann

Ben Hogan redeemed himself. After nine futile attempts, he finally won a Masters, thus silencing speculation that he would never get one. Fueling the talk were two factors: Hogan was 38, and although he had won the U.S. Open the year before, questions about his condition following his near-fatal car accident in 1949 still persisted.

After three days, he was a shot behind Skee Riegel and Sam Snead, but the final round was all Hogan. He blazed out in 33 and came to 18 with a two-shot lead. He was not going to repeat the debacle of '46. Hogan put his approach short of the green-below the hole-then chipped up and tapped in for par and 68.

"I got a big bang out of it," said Hogan. "Having all those people out there rooting for you-and then being able to come through for them. If I never win again, I'll be satisfied."

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