Career Slam: Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan didn't start winning majors until he was 34 years old. Then his career was derailed by a near-fatal auto accident. Oh, and he only played in one Open Championship. The odds were stacked against him, but Hogan completed the career Grand Slam, sealing his legacy and mystique.

BEN HOGAN GRAND SLAM FACTS

Order of career Grand Slam: 1946 PGA Championship, 1948 U.S. Open, 1951 Masters, 1953 Open Championship
Age when completing the career Grand Slam: 40
Total majors won: 9
Total majors played: 57
Major starts needed to win the Grand Slam: 33
Starts needed to win the final leg: Won Open Championship on his first -- and only -- attempt. According to the book, "American Triumvirate," Walter Hagen told Hogan that his greatness would never be assured until he won The Open. 
Closest to single-season Grand Slam: 1953. Hogan won the Masters and U.S. Open, then skipped the PGA, which was scheduled to end on July 7, the day before the first round of The Open. Hogan arrived early in Great Britain in order to practice with the smaller British ball. He then won the Open to became the first player to win three majors in the same year. Hogan never played all four majors in the same year.

OTHER CAREER GRAND SLAM MEMBERS

Jack Nicklaus | Tiger Woods | Gary Player | Gene Sarazen

BEN HOGAN: MAJOR VICTORIES

1946 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - At Portland Golf Club, Hogan defeated Ed Oliver 6 & 4 in the 36-hole final. Hogan was three down after the first 18 holes but rallied in the afternoon. In the semifinals, Hogan defeated Jimmy Demaret 10 & 9.

1948 U.S. OPEN - At Riviera, Hogan won his first U.S. Open but his third win at Riviera in the span of 18 months, having won the Los Angeles Open in 1947 and 1948. Hogan shot 68-69 on the 36-hole Saturday final to finish two shots ahead of Demaret.

1948 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - At Norwood Hills, Hogan cruised to a 7 & 6 victory over Mike Turnesa in the finals. Hogan suffered a near-fatal accident early the next year and did not play another PGA until 1960 after it had become a stroke-play event.

1950 U.S. OPEN - At Merion, Hogan's completed his storybook comeback from his auto accident 16 months earlier, defeating Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio in an 18-hole playoff. Hogan shot 69 to Mangrum's 73 and Fazio's 75.

1951 MASTERS - At Augusta National, Hogan trailed by one stroke after 54 holes but produced a bogey-free 68 to win his first Masters, two shots ahead of Skee Riegel. Hogan had finished runner-up twice before at Augusta National, and had finished in the top 10 six other times.

1951 U.S. OPEN - At Oakland Hills, Hogan brought the Monster to its knees, shooting a final-round 67 at the South course to finish at 7 over, two strokes ahead of Clayton Heafner. His 67 was the lowest round of the week and only two rounds under par.

1953 MASTERS - At Augusta National, Hogan seized the lead with a second-round 69, then went on to shatter the Masters scoring record, finishing at 14 under, beating Ed Oliver by five strokes. His score of 274 shattered the previous tournament mark by five strokes.

1953 U.S. OPEN - At Oakmont, Hogan decimated the field, going wire-to-wire to win by six strokes over Sam Snead. His 5-under total of 283 was the only finishing score under par. His four U.S. Open wins equaled the record previous held by Willie Anderson and Bobby Jones.

1953 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - At Carnoustie, Hogan's only Open appearance resulted in a four-stroke win, as he set a course record with a final-round 68. He was one of just three Americans to make the cut, as most of his countrymen had stayed in the states to play the PGA. He remains the only player to win the Masters, U.S. and Open titles in the same year.

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