European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 26 a a a the stars and stripes monday May 21,1990 Ben Hogan and his life Long love by Jaime Diaz the new York times fort Worth Texas a Ben Hogan avoids reflecting on the particulars of his magnificent career even though they happen to include four . Open victories five other major championships and a reputation As the greatest Shotak or who Ever lived. At 78, he still retains his legendary reticence but Hogan Isnit being difficult when he gives Short shrift to questions about his triumphs at great courses like Morion Carnoustie and Augusta. He has simply spent his life playing for More than victories. A my love was Golf and i studied and worked to do it As Well As i could do it a Hogan said leaning Forward from behind his desk at Ben Hogan co., where he is chairman. A i loved building a Golf swing and i loved seeing it work in Competition. I liked to win but More than anything i loved to play the Way i wanted to the Way Hogan wanted to play required As much dedication As any Man has Ever Given to the game and became the Standard of Effort by which the Best in the game have measured themselves Ever since. Hogan was the games first ascetic so focused and precise that even his practice sessions provided inspiration. A a in be never seen a Ball hit that Way a said Ben Crenshaw who remembers watching Hogan hit a shag bag full of balls at the Shady Oaks country club Here. A there was something very different about it that a very hard to explain. It was just perfect Ball Hogan won 62 tournaments on the pea tour his first in Pinehurst n.c., in 1940, and his last at the colonial in 1959. His legend was made when after suffering severe leg injuries when his car and a bus collided head on in 1949, he returned to win the . Open in 1950 and 1951, and took the masters the . Open and the British open in 1953. But As great As his record was his legacy is the solitary Pursuit of perfection on the practice tee. A this influence has been in bred in All of us a said Ray Floyd who As a Young pro played two competitive rounds with Hogan and several practice rounds. A people would ask a what a the Hogan secret a and Ben would say a the secrets in the meaning if you practice enough you la find Hogan is still after the secret and the glint in his Eye still reflects an Active mind but he is physically limited in his quest. The lingering effects of the car crash weakened his legs to the Point that he Hasni to played 18 holes since the late 1970s. Two years ago an emergency appendectomy led to a life threatening bout with pneumonia that left him in a Hospital for two months and caused him to lose 30 pounds. His 5-foot-7-Inch Frame still looks sturdy even As he is forced to walk slowly. But the most Golf he is Able to manage today Are Brief solitary practice sessions on a Good Days in which he hits Short Iron shots on a Fairway that is reserved for his use at Shady Oaks. A i could use some new pins a Hogan said with a rueful smile. A a in a afraid these arc worn on weekday mornings he dresses in a suit and tie and leaves the fort Worth Home he shares with his wife of 53 years Valerie for the offices of Ben Hogan co. Although this club manufacturing Plant was recently bought by a japanese conglomerate it still bears his name. Hogan usually stays until noon doing correspondence greeting selected visitors and consulting with club designers. His office is Well appointed but duly understated. On a Cabinet behind his desk Are several books including a the fundamentals of physics a a courses of the pea tour a and a collection of Hank Williams favorite songs. In the Corner rests a set of Golf clubs with the hard rubber and Nylon Cord up a photos Ben Hogan and other colonial champs Golf great Ben Hogan got together with some other former colonial champions before the Start of the 1990 tournament. From the left above Are Lanny wad Kins Keith Clearwater Ian Baker Finch Rod curl Tom Weiskopf Hogan Peter Jacobsen Corey Pavin fuzzy Zoeller and Ben Crenshaw. Below Hogan shows off the trophy he got in 1946 for winning the $10,000 Goodall round Robin match play tournament. m t a Wurr hi3 Kirn May y a t 1i a i a Riwu of rips that Hogan s calloused hands have or. R years gripped without Aid of a Glove. A a in la walk into the room and hell be fiddling with those things a said his Secretary of 10 years Doxie Williams. A i try to find out something new about Golf every Day a Hogan said e his since his last tournament appearance the 1971 Houston a champions International Hogan has closely guarded his privacy and has granted few interviews. In recent years he has almost never ventured away from fort Worth his Home since he was 8.three years ago he turned Down Jack Nicklaus request that he be the official honoree at the memorial tournament. A i done to want to be memorialized a Hogan said. A i done to think he thinks of himself As special a said Lanny Wadkins who is one of the Modem players closest to Hogan. A a he a done his Job the Way he thought it should have been done and he does no to understand All the adulation people want to Heap upon but the Garbo like mystique has been lifting gradually. Last year Hogan enthusiastically helped promote the Ben Hogan tour a series of $ 100,000 events designed As a training ground for Young professionals preparing for the pea tour. Although hogans going Public was shocking to some it was consistent with his Affinity for Young golfers. Hogan has consistently maintained that the level of Golf continues to improve and that today a players Are better than those of his Day. He remembers his Early struggles vividly saying the greatest accomplishment of his career was a being Able to make a living playing Golf after going broke twice starting asked what advice he had for Young players he replied a watch out for a Eben Isnit As cold As his said his sister in Law Sarah Harriman who has known him since he was 16. A a it a True that when he was playing Golf he did no to have much time for other people. But it was because he was so in tense about what he was doing. A Eben makes me laugh. The other Day i called the House and he answered a Henny Bogan Hogan was known for rarely saying More than a a you re away on the Golf course but Floyd said Hogan never tried to intimidate playing partners and Al ways liked repartee. A Eben is basically a very shy Man a Floyd said a but he has a div wit. But he likes people to come Back at him. He used to kid me about my Long hair but it was his Way of opening the door his Way of inviting you in. But if you stay away he a by nature going to stay away. You Are never going to get Hogan has never softened when it comes to imparting his knowledge of the game other than producing his two instruction books the last written in 1957, he has stayed virtually silent on the Golf swing. A read the books a Hogan said. A i did no to put anything in there that a although some in Golf think he should be More generous with his knowledge Hogan simply believes that Golf is Best Learned the hard Way. His own Road was slow and solitary and he never asked for advice. A training a person to play Golf about impossible a he said. A a teacher can Tell you something but unless you go out and practice it for hours you can to prove it. Practising is a serious subject to Hogan and he decided to end the conversation on a serious note. A i always out worked everybody a he said. A work never bothered me like it both ers some people. You can cutwork the Best player in the world.�?�. Do you then become the Best player it the world a yes a Hogan said. A yes you hit of liar nit in am to bet to 21 wit str in Loa Del Init top do rur Jay in or int a Bat its Ges i sea Pla it 00 hot 30 a 00 i r 30 jul ?35 St 1 35 i 1 05 i 135 by 3 05 to 3 35 to 1 05 at 1 35 be 2 00 hot �30 to 20 g 05 go 50 pc 10 c. 3 35 i 00 to 00 i 20 Al
