Golf’s Mount Rushmore
Ben Hogan
- 9 career Major Championships (tied for 4th all-time)
- 64 official Tour wins (4th all-time)
- One of five players in history to complete a career Grand Slam
- Professional years (1930-1971)
- Completed the “Triple Crown” season in 1953 by winning three Major Championships
Hogan’s claim to fame is probably his golf-swing theory the “Five Lessons” and golf instruction. Many professionals and golf historians think of Hogan’s swing in the same ilk as a Michael Jordan jump shot or a Mickey Mantle baseball swing. Simply put, Hogan is as iconic to the game of golf as the athletes mentioned above to their respective sports.
Hogan is almost universally known as one of the greatest ball-strikers in the history of golf as well. It’s almost eerie to think about Hogan’s car accident in 1949 and link it to Tiger’s, which brings us hope at the same time. Hogan would go on to play highly competitive golf after his car wreck, and even win multiple Major Championships afterwards.
Hogan boasts 9 career Major Championships, which is tied for 4th all-time and 64 official Tour wins, placing him 4th all-time. Hogan is also only one of five players in history to complete a career Grand Slam. Hogan’s best year as a professional was 1953, when he won the “Triple Crown” of golf, winning three Major Championships.
One of the most underrated aspects of Hogan’s golf career was the fact that he won four U.S. Opens (1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953). Coincidentally enough, Hogan shares this record with Bobby Jones, Willie Anderson, and fellow Mount Rushmore staple, Jack Nicklaus.
Hogan is the final member of golf’s elite Mount Rushmore.