Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Walter Hagen" - New World

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{claimed}}{{epname}}
 
{{claimed}}{{epname}}
 +
 +
==Early Life==
  
 
[[Image:Walter Hagen 2005 ed.jpg|thumb|200px|A biography of Walter Hagen.]]
 
[[Image:Walter Hagen 2005 ed.jpg|thumb|200px|A biography of Walter Hagen.]]
Walter Charles Hagen was born on (December 21, 1892), in Rochester, Ney York.  ([[Dec was a major figure in [[golf]] in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in [[Rochester, New York]], [[United States]]. His tally of eleven [[Men's major golf championships|majors]] is 3rd behind [[Tiger Woods]] and [[Jack Nicklaus]]. He won the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] twice and in 1922 he became the first American to win the [[The Open Championship|British Open]], which he went on to win four times in total. He also won the [[PGA Championship]] five times (1921, 24-27), the [[Western Open]] five times, totalled 44 PGA wins in his career, and was a six time [[Ryder Cup]] captain.
+
Walter Charles Hagen was born on (December 21, 1892), in Rochester, Ney York, as the son of a blacksmith. He was the second of five children, and the only boy out of all the chilren. At the young age of five, Walter began playin golf in the family cow pasture: " I would herd the cows all in one spot where I had made a hole, so they could eat the grass and make a closs putting surface."<ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=132&category=sports</ref> Growing up, Hagen surrounded himself around the sport of Golf, and was hired as a caddy at a prominant country club. Andy Christy, the head pro at the club, gave Hagen lessons in his childhood, and was even challenged by Hagen during this tenure together, to a nine hole battle: "How about my beating you nine fast holes? His eyes convered me slowly for a few seconds, then he said, young man, when I want to play golf, I'll ask you."<ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=132&category=sports</ref>
  
Hagen was also very skilled at baseball.  He cancelled a tryout for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in order to play in a golf tournament. Later that week, Hagen was the U.S. Open Champion, and his career was changed forever.
+
==Golf Career==
 +
While Hagen was mostly known for his skill on the golf course, he was also very skilled at baseball.  He cancelled a tryout for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in order to play in the U.S Open at Midlothian Country Club in Blue Island, Illinois. Later that week, Hagen was crowned the U.S. Open Champion, and his career was changed forever. Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf. He emerged in an era when the division between amateurs and professionals was often stark, with the amateurs having the upper hand in some sports, golf among them. This was especially true in the [[United Kingdom]], which was the leading country in competitive golf when Hagen began his career. Golf professionals were often not allowed to partake of the facilities of the clubhouse and were sometimes not allowed to enter the clubhouse by the front door. On one occasion he hired a Rolls Royce to serve as his dressing room because he was refused entrance to the clubhouse dressing room. On another occasion he refused to enter a clubhouse to claim his prize because he had earlier been denied entrance. He had a attitude that made in incredibly popular with the golfing world, so popular that he was able to charge $40 to make appearances at exhibition tournaments. Hagen retired in 1939, with 75 tourament victories, including two U.S Opens, five Western opens, five PGA Championships, and four British opens. He also was the captain of six American Ryder cup teams. He is third all time in majors won with eleven.
  
Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf. He emerged in an era when the division between amateurs and professionals was often stark, with the amateurs having the upper hand in some sports, golf among them. This was especially true in the [[United Kingdom]], which was the leading country in competitive golf when Hagen began his career. Golf professionals were often not allowed to partake of the facilities of the clubhouse and were sometimes not allowed to enter the clubhouse by the front door. On one occasion he hired a Rolls Royce to serve as his dressing room because he was refused entrance to the clubhouse dressing room. On another occasion he refused to enter a clubhouse to claim his prize because he had earlier been denied entrance.
+
==Hagan versus Jones==
 +
Throughout his career, Hagen was known for outdueling the other big names in the sport such as [[Ben Hogan]], [[Byron Nelson]], and [[Sam Snead]]. In 1926, Hagen challenged young start [[Bobby Jones]], to a pair of 36-hole matches, an accomplishment that Hagen calls the biggest thrill ever in the sport of golf. However later in 1950, sports writers voted [[Bobby Jones]], as the greatest golfer in the first half of the century, to which Hagen replied, "I would have voted for Jones, myself, He was marvelous."<ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=132&category=sports</ref>
  
Walter Hagen served as the first club professional at the now legendary [[Oakland Hills Country Club]], in [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]].
+
==Life After Golf==
 +
After retiring from golf, Hagen lived in Michigan, at the Detroit Athletic Club and the Book Cadillac Hotel. In 1954, Walter decided to move to a large estate that overlooked East Long Lake. Despite retiring as a professional, Walter still played golf frequently and even played celebrity figurs such as [[Kind Edward VIII]] and [[Edsel Ford]]. Hagen died on (October 6, 1969, in [[Traverse City, Michigan]] at the age of 76.  He now rests at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum, [[Southfield, Michigan]], next to his grandson.  At the time of his death, Hagen was well-respected.  His pall bearers included some legendary sport figures, [[Arnold Palmer]] and George Morris.
  
Hagen was a dashing and assertive character who raised the status of professional golfers and improved their earnings as well. He may have been the first sportsman to earn a million dollars in his career. He once stated that he "never wanted to be a millionaire, just to live like one". Hagen once expressed his creed in these words: "You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." [[Gene Sarazen]], who was ten years Hagen's junior commented, "All the professionals ... should say a silent thanks to Walter Hagen each time they stretch a check between their fingers. It was Walter who made
+
==Legacy==
professional golf what it is."
+
Hagen was a dashing and assertive character who raised the status of professional golfers and improved their earnings as well. He was the most popular golfer of the time, and was never afraid to speak his opinion, or tell a good joke. Grand Rapids named a street after him in his memory to show respect for the amazing golferScotland's Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which actually had barred him from playing at the course 48 years earlier, made him the fourth American ever selected as an honorary member. Walter will also be known for his colorful dressing styles, and was the first sportsmen to ever be named to the country's best dressed list. Walter Hagen has also been inducted into the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]].
 
 
Hagen died in [[Traverse City, Michigan]] at the age of 76.  He now rests at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum, [[Southfield, Michigan]], next to his grandson.  At the time of his death, Hagen was well-respectedHis pall bearers included some legendary sport figures, [[Arnold Palmer]] and George Morris.
 
 
 
Hagen's major victories were as follows:
 
 
 
*[[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]: 1914, 1919.
 
*[[The Open Championship|British Open]]: 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929.
 
*[[PGA Championship]]:1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927.
 
 
 
He was past his peak by the time the other major, [[The Masters Tournament]], was established, but finished T13, T15, T11 in 1934-1936.
 
 
 
There is some debate among golf historians as to whether Hagen should actually be credited with sixteen major championships.  Hagen captured the [[Western Open]] five times (1916, '21, '26, '27, and '32) at a time when the Western Open was considered one of the premier events on the world golf schedule. (The concept of "four majors" wasn't initiated until Arnold Palmer's Masters and U. S. Open wins in 1960.)  In Hagen's prime, the Masters had not yet been founded, and the Western Open (the championship of the Western Golf Association) was, by today's definition a "Major": one of four elite tournaments in which all of the top golfers in the world could be counted on to participate each year. 
 
 
 
Hagen captained the [[United States]] in the first six [[Ryder Cup]]s and played on the first five: 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, and 1935.
 
 
 
Walter Hagen has been inducted into the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]].
 
  
 
==PGA Tour wins (44)==
 
==PGA Tour wins (44)==
Line 327: Line 316:
 
*[http://www.walterhagenhome.org/ Walter Hagen's Home]
 
*[http://www.walterhagenhome.org/ Walter Hagen's Home]
 
*[http://www.golflegends.org/walter-hagen.php Profile of Walter Hagen]
 
*[http://www.golflegends.org/walter-hagen.php Profile of Walter Hagen]
 +
*[http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=132&category=sports]
 +
*[http://www.golfeurope.com/almanac/players/hagen.htm]
  
 
{{U.S. Open champions}}
 
{{U.S. Open champions}}
Line 334: Line 325:
 
== References and suggested reading ==
 
== References and suggested reading ==
  
*"The Walter Hagen Story: By The Haig, Himself", by Walter Hagen
+
* Hagen, W. 2004"The Walter Hagen Story: By The Haig, Himself". Sports Media Group. ISBN 1587261316
*"Sir Walter And Mr. Jones: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, And The Rise Of American Golf", by Stephen R. Lowe
+
* Lowe, S  2004. "Sir Walter And Mr. Jones: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, And The Rise Of American Golf". Sports Media Group. ISBN 1587261871
*"Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf", by Tom Clavin
+
* Clavin, T. 2005. "Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf". Simon & Schuster. ISBN  0743204867 ISBN 978-0743204866
*"The Immortal Bobby: Bobby Jones and the Golden Age of Golf", by Ron Rapoport
+
 
*"The Grand Slam", by Mark Frost
 
*"The Eternal Summer : Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year", by Curt Sampson.
 
  
 
[[category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
[[category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
{{credits|Walter_Hagen|142086090}}
 
{{credits|Walter_Hagen|142086090}}

Revision as of 12:17, 9 July 2007

Early Life

File:Walter Hagen 2005 ed.jpg
A biography of Walter Hagen.

Walter Charles Hagen was born on (December 21, 1892), in Rochester, Ney York, as the son of a blacksmith. He was the second of five children, and the only boy out of all the chilren. At the young age of five, Walter began playin golf in the family cow pasture: " I would herd the cows all in one spot where I had made a hole, so they could eat the grass and make a closs putting surface."[1] Growing up, Hagen surrounded himself around the sport of Golf, and was hired as a caddy at a prominant country club. Andy Christy, the head pro at the club, gave Hagen lessons in his childhood, and was even challenged by Hagen during this tenure together, to a nine hole battle: "How about my beating you nine fast holes? His eyes convered me slowly for a few seconds, then he said, young man, when I want to play golf, I'll ask you."[2]

Golf Career

While Hagen was mostly known for his skill on the golf course, he was also very skilled at baseball. He cancelled a tryout for the Philadelphia Phillies in order to play in the U.S Open at Midlothian Country Club in Blue Island, Illinois. Later that week, Hagen was crowned the U.S. Open Champion, and his career was changed forever. Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf. He emerged in an era when the division between amateurs and professionals was often stark, with the amateurs having the upper hand in some sports, golf among them. This was especially true in the United Kingdom, which was the leading country in competitive golf when Hagen began his career. Golf professionals were often not allowed to partake of the facilities of the clubhouse and were sometimes not allowed to enter the clubhouse by the front door. On one occasion he hired a Rolls Royce to serve as his dressing room because he was refused entrance to the clubhouse dressing room. On another occasion he refused to enter a clubhouse to claim his prize because he had earlier been denied entrance. He had a attitude that made in incredibly popular with the golfing world, so popular that he was able to charge $40 to make appearances at exhibition tournaments. Hagen retired in 1939, with 75 tourament victories, including two U.S Opens, five Western opens, five PGA Championships, and four British opens. He also was the captain of six American Ryder cup teams. He is third all time in majors won with eleven.

Hagan versus Jones

Throughout his career, Hagen was known for outdueling the other big names in the sport such as Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, and Sam Snead. In 1926, Hagen challenged young start Bobby Jones, to a pair of 36-hole matches, an accomplishment that Hagen calls the biggest thrill ever in the sport of golf. However later in 1950, sports writers voted Bobby Jones, as the greatest golfer in the first half of the century, to which Hagen replied, "I would have voted for Jones, myself, He was marvelous."[3]

Life After Golf

After retiring from golf, Hagen lived in Michigan, at the Detroit Athletic Club and the Book Cadillac Hotel. In 1954, Walter decided to move to a large estate that overlooked East Long Lake. Despite retiring as a professional, Walter still played golf frequently and even played celebrity figurs such as Kind Edward VIII and Edsel Ford. Hagen died on (October 6, 1969, in Traverse City, Michigan at the age of 76. He now rests at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum, Southfield, Michigan, next to his grandson. At the time of his death, Hagen was well-respected. His pall bearers included some legendary sport figures, Arnold Palmer and George Morris.

Legacy

Hagen was a dashing and assertive character who raised the status of professional golfers and improved their earnings as well. He was the most popular golfer of the time, and was never afraid to speak his opinion, or tell a good joke. Grand Rapids named a street after him in his memory to show respect for the amazing golfer. Scotland's Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which actually had barred him from playing at the course 48 years earlier, made him the fourth American ever selected as an honorary member. Walter will also be known for his colorful dressing styles, and was the first sportsmen to ever be named to the country's best dressed list. Walter Hagen has also been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

PGA Tour wins (44)

  • 1916 (3) Metropolitan Open, Shawnee Open, Western Open
  • 1918 (1) North and South Open
  • 1919 (2) U.S. Open, Metropolitan Open
  • 1920 (3) Florida West Coast Open, Metropolitan Open, Bellevue C.C. Open
  • 1921 (2) Western Open, PGA Championship
  • 1922 (4) Deland Open Championship, Florida West Coast Open, White Sulphur Springs Open, British Open
  • 1923 (5) Texas Open, Florida West Coast Open, Asheville-Biltmore Open Championship, North and South Open, Kansas Mid-Continent Pro Championship (tie with Joe Kirkwood, Sr.)
  • 1924 (5) North and South Open, Metropolitan PGA, British Open, PGA Championship, Princess Anne C.C. Open
  • 1925 (1) PGA Championship
  • 1926 (4) Florida West Coast Open, Eastern Open Championship, Western Open, PGA Championship
  • 1927 (2) Western Open, PGA Championship
  • 1928 (1) British Open
  • 1929 (4) Long Beach Open, Miami International Four-Ball (with Leo Diegel), British Open, Great Lakes Open
  • 1931 (2) Coral Gables Open, Canadian Open
  • 1932 (2) Western Open, St. Louis Open
  • 1933 (1) Tournament of the Gardens Open
  • 1935 (1) Gasparilla Open-Tampa
  • 1936 (1) Inverness Four-Ball (with Ky Laffoon)

Major championships are shown in bold.

Other wins

  • 1915 Massachusetts Open, California State Open
  • 1920 French Open
  • 1924 Belgian Open

Major Championships

Wins (11)

Year Championship 54 Holes Winning Score Margin Runners Up
1914 U.S. Open 2 shot lead +2 (68-74-75-73=290) 1 stroke Flag of United States Chick Evans
1919 U.S. Open (2) 5 shot deficit +17 (78-73-75-75=301) Playoff 1 Flag of United States Mike Brady
1921 PGA Championship N/A 3 & 2 3 strokes Flag of England Flag of United States Jim Barnes
1922 The Open Championship 2 shot deficit 76-73-79-72=300 1 stroke Flag of England Flag of United States Jim Barnes
1924 The Open Championship (2) Tied for lead 77-73-74-77=301 1 stroke Flag of England Ernest Whitcombe
1924 PGA Championship (2) N/A 2 up 2 strokes Flag of England Flag of United States Jim Barnes
1925 PGA Championship (3) N/A 6 & 5 6 strokes Flag of United States William Mehlhorn
1926 PGA Championship (4) N/A 5 & 3 5 strokes Flag of United States Leo Diegel
1927 PGA Championship (5) N/A 1 up 1 stroke Flag of United States Joe Turnesa
1928 The Open Championship (3) 75-73-72-72=292 2 strokes Flag of United States Gene Sarazen
1929 The Open Championship (4) 4 shot lead 75-67-75-75=292 6 strokes Flag of United States Johnny Farrell

Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
1 Defeated Mike Brady in 18-hole playoff - Hagen (77), Brady (78)

Results timeline

Tournament 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
The Masters NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF
U.S. Open T4 1 T10 7 NT NT 1
The Open Championship DNP DNP NT NT NT NT NT
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP T3 NT NT DNP
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
The Masters NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF
U.S. Open 11 T2 5 T18 T4 T5 7 6 T4 T19
The Open Championship T52 T7 1 2 1 DNP T3 DNP 1 1
PGA Championship DNP 1 DNP 2 1 1 1 1 T5 T3
Tournament 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
The Masters NYF NYF NYF NYF T13 T15 T11 DNP DNP T33
U.S. Open T17 T7 10 T4 T58 3 T33 DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP T19 DNP DNP DNP T26 DNP DNP
PGA Championship DNP T17 T17 DNP T17 T33 DNP DNP DNP T33
Tournament 1940 1941
The Masters WD WD
U.S. Open DQ DNP
The Open Championship NT NT
PGA Championship T9 DNP

NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
DQ = Disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

See also

  • Golfers with most PGA Tour wins
  • Golfers with most major championship wins
  • Most wins in one PGA Tour event

External links

References and suggested reading

  • Hagen, W. 2004"The Walter Hagen Story: By The Haig, Himself". Sports Media Group. ISBN 1587261316
  • Lowe, S 2004. "Sir Walter And Mr. Jones: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, And The Rise Of American Golf". Sports Media Group. ISBN 1587261871
  • Clavin, T. 2005. "Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf". Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0743204867 ISBN 978-0743204866

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.