What prevented Ben Hogan from attempting to complete the Grand Slam of golf by winning the US PGA Championship in 1953?

More about Ben Hogan

Having won the Masters, the US Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club and the Open at Carnoustie, he was unable to compete in the US PGA Championship as the PGA Championship overlapped the Open.

The US PGA Championship was conducted from July 1 to July 7 and the Open ran from July 6 to July 10. Unbelievable but true.

Hogan often declined to play in the PGA Championship and skipped it more often as his career wore on.

One of the reasons was that the PGA Championship was, until 1958, a match play event, and Hogan's particular skill was "shooting a number". He was meticulously planning and executing a strategy to achieve a score for a round on a particular course.

Another reason was that the PGA required several days of 36 holes per day competition, and after his 1949 car accident, Hogan struggled to manage more than 18 holes a day.

Career Achievements

• Won 9 major championships, tied for 4th all-time
• One of only 5 players to win all four major tournaments (Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship)
• Won 64 PGA Tour events overall
• Known as one of the best ball-strikers in golf history

Influence on Golf Swing Theory

• Developed a very precise, repeatable swing
• Wrote influential instructional books like "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf"
• Known for his intense practice regimen and dedication to perfecting his technique

The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company

• Founded by Hogan in 1953 to produce high-quality golf clubs
• Targeted toward skilled players
• Went through several ownership changes over the decades
• Brand discontinued in 2008 by Callaway, but name was later licensed for new product lines
• Company ceased operations in 2022 after final bankruptcy

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