In Mark Frost’s gem, “The Match: The Day the Game Changed Forever” the story of a clandestine match at Cypress Point between professionals Ben Hogan/Byron Nelson and amateurs Harvie Ward/Ken Venturi, Mark shares details of Ben Hogan’s early challenges on the professional circuit.
Ben was a tireless worker however the fruit of his labors were not paying dividends at a time when his Texan contemporaries (Bryon Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, Ralph Guldahl and Lloyd Mangrum) were garnering big wins and national attention. In addition to Hogan’s performance plight, he was barely able to scrape together the necessary funds to make a third run on tour in 1938.
As the story is told, Ben was down to his last $50 as he entered the 1938 Oakland Open at Sequoyah Country Club in Oakland, California. On the morning of the first round of play, ready to head to the course, he found his prized Studebaker on blocks, missing all four tires. To Ben, this was the final straw, stating “that’s all, that’s enough” however, thankfully, his wife (Valerie) convinced him to persevere. A sixth place finish in the Oakland Open (winner/Harry Cooper), with a $285 payday and a subsequent third place finish at the Sacramento Open at Haggin Oaks in Sacramento, California (winner/Johnny Revolta), with a $350 payday, began to move the needle in the right direction.
Mark Frost suggests the turning point, or the missing piece for Hogan, was “the assurance to trust his years of hard work and banish the demons of doubt and just play the game.”
Note: Hogan’s first individual win came at the 1940 North and South Open at Pinehurst.
In addition to the right equipment, periodic instruction and meaningful practice providing the opportunity for some semblance of certainty (Seeking Certainty), banishing the “Demons of Doubt” may just be the final frontier!
Mark Frost’s Golfing Contributions:
- The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever
- The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf
- The Greatest Game Ever Played
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The back nine can only get better!
It is amazing to see the purses of years past to where they are today.