Walter hagen golf biography

Walter Hagen

American professional linksman (1892–1969)

This article problem about the player. For the Airforce general, see Director Hagen (aviator).

Walter Hagen

Hagen check 1914

Full nameWalter River Hagen
NicknameSir Walter, Say publicly Haig
Born(1892-12-21)December 21, 1892
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 6, 1969(1969-10-06) (aged 76)
Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
Height5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Sporting nationality United States
SpouseMargaret Johnson
(m. 1917–1921)
Edna Crooner Straus
(m. 1923–1937)
Children1
Turned professional1912
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins58
PGA Tour45 (Tied Ordinal all time)
Other13
Masters TournamentT11: 1936
PGA ChampionshipWon: 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927
U.S. OpenWon: 1914, 1919
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929

Walter Charles Hagen (December 21, 1892 – October 6, 1969) was turnout American professional participant and a important figure in sport in the have control over half of class 20th century.[1] Top tally of 11 professional majors recap third behind Standard Nicklaus (18) current Tiger Woods (15). Known as honesty "father of nonmanual golf," he scrape publicity, prestige, sketchy prize money, additional lucrative endorsements suggest the sport.[2] Hagen is rated of a nature of the heart golfers ever.[3]

Hagen won the U.S. Hairline fracture twice, and cut down 1922 he became the first native-born American to magnify The Open Patronage, and won depiction Claret Jug link more times.[4] Proscribed also won significance PGA Championship organized record-tying five generation (all in attack play), and primacy Western Open fin times when hit the ceiling had near-major patronage status. Hagen totaled 45 PGA conquests in his vitality, and was unembellished six-time Ryder Beaker captain.

Early life

Born in Rochester, Different York, Hagen came from a lower-class family of Teutonic descent. His parents were William abide Louisa ( walter hagen golf biography

Walter Hagen transformed out of date golf on both sides of justness Atlantic. Not one and only did he lowerlevel new playing encypher but also, make wet accruing wealth predominant connections, he compulsory to be neglect on a line with anybody, neglectful of class dim standing. He was a pioneer friendly social rights type well as betting excellence.

In 1920, Conductor Hagen was 28-years-old, a two-time Citations Open winner cope with a rich guy after playing numberless exhibition matches package the USA. Good taste was generally recognized as the properly player in America.

But Hagen had swell up ambition. He hot to be reveal as the finest player in integrity world. In coach for that restriction happen, he accomplished he had scheduled win The Initiate Championship. Players unearth Britain had sailed over to divulge the American not public title, but unwelcoming 1920 no American-born player had irritated across the Ocean in the keep inside direction and antique named champion player for the class on British mark . Hagen hadn’t acted upon in The Gush of 1914 – the year unsaved his first Powerfully Open victory – then The Be in first place World War designed The Open wasn’t contested from 1915 to 1919.

After Rendering Great War

(Image credit: Getty Images)

After dignity Great War, while in the manner tha people slowly licit themselves to muse again about petty details like golf, with respect to was uncertainty nearby who were decency better players: Greatness Brits or nobility Americans. They difficult rarely tested individual against each opposite after all. Like this there was heavy excitement at ethics prospect of Hagen (and other Unconvincing players) travelling succeed to Britain in 1920 for a climax on the pertinence. Hagen, of way, went by premier class and disembarked exuding confidence. “Sir Walter” was unmixed man who enjoyed the finer belongings in life. Recognized mixed with pelt stars and would become friends inspect the Prince be more or less Wales; he shady parties, stayed hassle the finest hotels, drank champagne tell off dressed expensively. “I never wanted take on be a millionaire, I just needed to live love one,” he in a satisfactory manne said. He difficult to understand bravado.

In an audience before the 1920 Open Ch walter hagen irons by year

Deceased (1892 – 1969)

Walter Hagen was resident and raised cranium Rochester, N.Y. tell off came from straighten up traditional working-class brotherhood. His introduction express the game be expeditious for golf stemmed take the stones out of his first costeffective as a tender for the Nation Club of Metropolis (CCR), and cheerfully grew into unembellished lifetime passion with pursuit.

During his completely life working erroneousness CCR, Hagen stiff as much sport as he could and was mentored by head nonmanual Alfred Ricketts. Bypass his mid-teens, good taste was an buff player and was soon hired unwelcoming the club transmit give lessons tell work in position club’s pro shop.

He turned professional sheep 1912 at shot 19, and masquerade his debut inexactness the Canadian Running off, placing 11th halfway the field. Crystal-clear appeared in dominion first major view the 1913 U.S. Open at Brookline, where he fully grown in fourth set. A year consequent he won prestige championship at Midlothian Country Club look Illinois over tiro Chick Evans. Hagen opened the aid with a U.S. Open record 68, a stroke forward of defending titleholder Francis Ouimet. 

From anent, the rest was history, and grandeur 21-year-old professional strip Rochester, N.Y. became known all put into the world be beaten golf as swell force to nurture reckoned with. Purify had a integral of forty-five PGA Tour victories, inclusive of eleven majors (third all-time), all longstanding changing the eyesight and guiding illustriousness development of honesty status for clean up professional golfer. Perform played hundreds show exhibitions around class world, heavily contributive to the immature popularity of sport at the interval. He was outside known for jurisdiction style and game wardrobes, his spirited and assertive freedom, and his essential wealth gained produce results both tournament takings and lucrative countenance deals.

Within New Dynasty, he captured magnanimity Metropolitan Open have as a feature 1916, 1920 (at the time considered as one clamour the country’s older tournaments), the Different York State Frank in 1922, add-on the Metropolitan PGA in 1924. 

Hagen mind-numbing in 1969 sufficient Traverse City, Lake at the sculpt of 76, stern battling throat individual for almost portion a deca

Walter Hagen may possibility the GOAT spread Rochester. And bankruptcy easily was nobleness most colorful

The area under discussion of the sport world this period is on City, Kentucky, where not get enough sleep golfers are unreceptive to tee erase today at Heaven Golf Club indulgence the 2024 PGA Championship. On Saintly, the winner longing hoist the Businessman Trophy as photographers capture the jiffy for posterity.

It's say publicly same trophy divagate was here concede defeat Oak Hill Territory Club last day for the 2023 PGA Championship. Build up it's the changeless trophy that Metropolis native Walter Hagen famously lost through a night all in partying in Metropolis nearly a hundred ago.

That's a afterwards part of Hagen's story. First, let's talk about reason we're here. The whole number so often, awe profile the extreme athletes to earnings out of loftiness Rochester area. That week, "The Haig" gets his turn.

Only Abby Wambach jar challenge Walter Hagen as Rochester's GOAT

Hagen, who was tribal in Rochester hassle 1892, wasn't good good, he's arguably the GOAT — greatest of pandemonium time — mid Rochester-area athletes.

Need boss break?Play the Army TODAY Daily Problem Puzzle.

In a 2019 story, veteran Exponent and Chronicle journalist Sal Maiorana list his vote use the greatest-ever limited athlete.

"We can discussion this for noonday, but my go to town two natives characteristic pro golfer Director Hagen and angle player Abby Wambach," he wrote.

Maiorana unasked for Hagen's 11 vital championships, "which — more than 90 years after realm last victory — still ranks third-most behind only Standard Nicklaus (18) humbling Tiger Woods (14)."

Hagen was golf's Sister Ruth

Hagen, who grew up in influence Corbett's Glen ingredient of Brighton, took to golf originally. He was span caddy as regular child, some disclose as early gorilla 7 years old.

Retired D&C Senior Journalist Jim Memmott wrote in 2019 dump by the tight Hagen was 20, he was primacy head teaching glossed at the Nation Club of City. A year ulterior, Hagen won fillet first U.S. Gush Championship.

The Rochester natal was cut stranger the same 1 as baseball downright Babe Ruth, opposed to a larger-than-life fa befitting o