This one of the GREATEST videos I have ever watched. Ben Hogan is arguably the best Golfer of the 20th century. Tiger Woods maybe the best of the 21st century.
I still play my Hogan irons from the 80s. And I got another set of Apex II’s that is brand new. No better feeling than when those clubs are well struck.
Hogan simply must be up there as one of the greatest golfers of all time. He had to go to war for 5 years, so missed out on 20 Majors, on top of that he was almost killed in a car accident and missed out again on many more Majors, but he fought back from near death to win more Majors and complete the Grand Slam, what a player, what a man, his feats will never be bettered.
My best round ever was with Nicklaus Muirfield persimmon woods, a Maxfli Tour Balata ball, and Hogan Apex PC irons. The PC stood for Percussion Center. Beautiful clubs to look at and hitting one pure was heaven.
I can’t part with my Apex Edge Pro Model irons from the 90s, except now in my late 60s with a new hip, I switched to the same irons with Apex Constant Weight graphite shafts. In my opinion, these feel even better. Interestingly, in college, I caddied for a tour pro who was not under contract with the Hogan Company, but had Apex shafts in his irons. After the round (and after he paid me), I had the courage to ask him about this and was told in so many words that there are more than a few on tour who are paid to use another brand of irons, but have Apex shafts due to their consistency, feel, balance, and flex point. I found that very, very interesting, to say the least.
Hogan was and is still the greatest of all-time and the more I learn about him and all the other players the more he separates himself from everyone else who ever played the game. Between 1941 & 1956 he finished in the top ten AND under 290 in 12 straight US Open attempts. During this streak he won 5 times (I always include the 1942 Hale America National Open) and did it on 12 different courses. This streak was, of course, interrupted twice (WW2 military service and the massive injuries in 1949) and the next longest streak by anyone else is still only 4. To put this amazing achievement into more perspective consider that in the 1970 US Open Nicklaus, Palmer & Player all failed to break 300!! In addition, bare in mind that before 1960 players were not allowed to clean the ball on the green. When one considers that over time technology has always lowered scores this accomplishment rises to a level unmatched in the history of American sports. He's the only player to win 10 times on tour (1946,1948) in a year more than once; holds the longest streak of consecutive attempts in top 10 of modern majors at 18 (1947-1956); holds longest streak of top 10s in consecutive US Open attempts at 16 (1940-1960), next longest 7; holds longest streak of top 5 consecutive modern major attempts at 12 (1940-1947), next longest 7; won the most modern majors in 11 attempts with 8 wins between 1948 & 1953; only player to finish top 2 on tour in 13 events in a year more than twice (1941,1946,1948). There's much more but these above feats are enough to elevate him to the top because they are spread over the 3 most telling areas of criteria of golf greatness: (1) performance in the US Open which is the national championship and the oldest and most challenging of all competitions in American golf because it is played on a different venue each year; (2) modern majors; (3) the US tour.
If anyone wants to argue who was the best, I say something like this. You cannot compare one era to another and end up with anything noteworthy. You cannot compare, for example, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds and if that isn't obvious to you, then there is no sense talking about it. Hogan was one of the best ever along with half a dozen others. I think I can say that and be happy about it.
Well said buddy I've thought the same thing hundreds of times also how much more amazing would his record be without that near fatal car accident he was in also being in the war for yrs unbelievable really yes Nicklaus might be the greatest winner of all time but Mr Hogan for me is and will always be the greatest golfer of all time
@@boy_peeps Could be right there tbh buddy ....but being a massive Mr Hogan fan myself I do think if the timing date say was different and he could of made that tournament then he would of definitely tried with everything that he had etc due to what was at stake. .....people including his inner circle didn't believe he could cope with the arduous strain on his body in the Open championship etc but his sheer determination and drive got him through and saw him win the event on his 1st and only attempt
lee sale I just saw your comment for the first time today. It made me sick and enraged when all of the announcers at the 2019 Masters were falling all over themselves to proclaim “the greatest comeback in sports history” when Tiger Woods was winning another major. I am not saying that Tiger’s comeback should be looked down upon. It is a huge achievement. He deserves a great deal of credit for his efforts to resurrect his game to the point he can win again, even a major. But to say that his back issues were more severe and his struggle was greater than the struggles that Mr. Hogan had trying to put his body back together after his automobile accident is just not the case. All I can say is, if anyone thinks that Tiger’s comeback was greater, they are entitled to their opinion. However, I think anyone that has been hit by a bus that crushed his legs and mangled the rest of his body might see things a little differently. I guarantee you Mr. Hogan’s pain was much more severe than Tiger’s especially when you consider all of the advances that have been made in medicine that help athletes both work through and recover from injuries. For those announcers to virtually ignore the comeback of Mr. Hogan was just totally off base. Not to wish ill on anyone, but I bet if any of those announcers had been hit by a bus, they might feel a little differently about the level of their praise for Tiger overcoming a bad back.
OK, the golf criteria that the media & fans are obssessed with is "modern" majors. I say age 21 to 40 is the full prime of a pro golfer. Just taking a player's attempts during those career years & dividing them by wins to also include any winning attempts before or after those ages will produce a fair & accurate majors record of a great player. These are the results of the following contenders for GOAT. Ben Hogan 10 wins / 34 attempts (including his 1942 Hale America National Open win) .294%. Jack Nicklaus 18 Ws / 79 atts (including his win at age 46) .228%. Tiger Woods 15 Ws / 71 atts (including his win at age 43) .211%.
And the more one learns about him and all the eras of the game it becomes more and more obvious that it isn't even close in relation to all the others who have ever played the game.
How can anyone compare to Nicklaus's record. After Hogan played the last 36 hoes of the 1960 US Open with amateur Jack Nicklaus he said"I just played with a fat kid from Ohio that should have won this tournament by ten shots if he knew what he was doing." Of course Hogan did hit the first 34 greens of the final day.
In 1942 Hogan shot TWO 271s to win the N & S Open (Pinehurst) and the Hale America National Open. It would be 52 years of golf technology before another player shot that low to win 2 of the 4 biggest stroke events. Hogan finished in the top 10 AND scored under 290 in 12 straight US Open attempts between 1941 & 1956. The next longest such streak is 4. Think is has been a little easier to break 290 in the last half century. This is just the tiny tip of the iceberg of reasons why Hogan is the greatest and it's really not close.
Joel Mc Probably true, but Jack was able to play in many more tournaments. Also people forget Bobby Jones has a phenomenal record from age 21 to 28 when he quit. He played only part time and won or placed 2nd in a huge percentage of the majors. Really a stunning record.
True statement there buddy. ..no one can deny that Nicklaus was the Greatest Champion at present of all time but like yourself in a massive Mr Hogan fan period and I do definitely believe that he was the GOAT best course manager best striker of the bag by a distance throughout the whole bag best stratigest by a margin also ....just such a pity that he was absent from the game In the best period of his life say firstly due to the War then from that near fatal car accident he had can only imagine how much more extraordinary his record could of been don't you think. .....even Tiger Woods has stated before that Mr Hogan is by far the most reverred golfer ....not just by Amateurs but also Touring pros etc .........no one i believe in the history of the sport had so much control throughout the golf bag on such a high consistent basis than Mr Hogan. ..I've had this conversation with friends so many times and when they try to debate this question and do a little bit of research say no one to this day can answer or give me a name where they have had more control period than Mr Hogan. ....you just can't do it this guy is a legend period I would of done anything to had the chance to go back into time and see and watch him attack and demolish some of these championship courses
Well , THE GREAT BEN HOGAN WAS FROM VERY FAR THE BEST GOLFER IN HISTORY'S GAME SINCE THE BEGUINING ! HIS SWING WAS A MACHINE GUN ! THAT' S WHY HIS CLUBS WAS CALLED & RECEIVED THE MARK AS "APEX" !
anybody that plays the game of golf especially in the Pros cannot dispute any Pro that wins 18 majors & finishes 2 in 19 of them that is the greatest golfer ever to play the game & that is Jack Nicklaus ... in spite of Hogan best swing & greatest striker of the ball
That may be true. Hogan did have circumstances that didn't allow him to be as much in the record books. Only played in the British Open once. Served 3 years during WW2 Had a bear fatal car crash in 1949
Might need to consider percentages in this instance. Such as percent of wins, or even top 10's of tournaments played. Jack is GREAT, but played in MANY more tournaments.
It's been said that Nicklaus watched Hogan practice but Hogan never watched Nicklaus. Jack is the GOAT but no one ever hit the ball better than Ben Hogan.
The guy was a yipping misery who couldn't trust himself to aim at the 11th green in Augusta with his approach. So what's all this nonsense ? Jack won twice as many majors, was twice as good a player, and twice as good a man.
Garbage. Hogan was a splendid man, just a little crusty. Had a very tough life with much less opportunity than Jack, who had a very easy life and played in many more tournaments. Bobby Jones won 13 majors playing part time and quit at 28. A phenomenal record.
Jack had all the advantages of a wealthy family and golf coach to start with and someone who puts himself between his wife and a bus is a pretty good man in my view.
@@christopherfranklin972 Another reason I can't stand Hogan. When the bus suddenly appeared, to his left in a left hand drive car, he naturally dove away from it, perfectly understandable, and that took him across his wife. But of course Hogan disciples have to portray this as an act of wondrous Hogan heroism! BTW, why was the stupid idiot driving in such thick fog anyway? Happy New Year anyway!!
This one of the GREATEST videos I have ever watched. Ben Hogan is arguably the best Golfer of the 20th century. Tiger Woods maybe the best of the 21st century.
First timer with Ben Hogan irons so happy seriously thank you.
Glad to hear it, thank you for the support!
I still play my Hogan irons from the 80s. And I got another set of Apex II’s that is brand new. No better feeling than when those clubs are well struck.
Same here, bought a set of apex blades in a thrift store and love em. Best twenty bucks I ever spent 😎
Agreed, but one small sweet spot! Felt great when you found that sweet spot though!
Hogan simply must be up there as one of the greatest golfers of all time. He had to go to war for 5 years, so missed out on 20 Majors, on top of that he was almost killed in a car accident and missed out again on many more Majors, but he fought back from near death to win more Majors and complete the Grand Slam, what a player, what a man, his feats will never be bettered.
We agree!
I agree but he never went to war or was outsides the United States during the war years .
My best round ever was with Nicklaus Muirfield persimmon woods, a Maxfli Tour Balata ball, and Hogan Apex PC irons. The PC stood for Percussion Center. Beautiful clubs to look at and hitting one pure was heaven.
But only in that small sweet spot!
@@TerlinguaTalkeetna So true. I read an article that said the sweet spot was the size of a dime!
I can’t part with my Apex Edge Pro Model irons from the 90s, except now in my late 60s with a new hip, I switched to the same irons with Apex Constant Weight graphite shafts. In my opinion, these feel even better. Interestingly, in college, I caddied for a tour pro who was not under contract with the Hogan Company, but had Apex shafts in his irons. After the round (and after he paid me), I had the courage to ask him about this and was told in so many words that there are more than a few on tour who are paid to use another brand of irons, but have Apex shafts due to their consistency, feel, balance, and flex point. I found that very, very interesting, to say the least.
Hogan was and is still the greatest of all-time and the more I learn about him and all the other players the more he separates himself from everyone else who ever played the game. Between 1941 & 1956 he finished in the top ten AND under 290 in 12 straight US Open attempts. During this streak he won 5 times (I always include the 1942 Hale America National Open) and did it on 12 different courses. This streak was, of course, interrupted twice (WW2 military service and the massive injuries in 1949) and the next longest streak by anyone else is still only 4. To put this amazing achievement into more perspective consider that in the 1970 US Open Nicklaus, Palmer & Player all failed to break 300!! In addition, bare in mind that before 1960 players were not allowed to clean the ball on the green. When one considers that over time technology has always lowered scores this accomplishment rises to a level unmatched in the history of American sports. He's the only player to win 10 times on tour (1946,1948) in a year more than once; holds the longest streak of consecutive attempts in top 10 of modern majors at 18 (1947-1956); holds longest streak of top 10s in consecutive US Open attempts at 16 (1940-1960), next longest 7; holds longest streak of top 5 consecutive modern major attempts at 12 (1940-1947), next longest 7; won the most modern majors in 11 attempts with 8 wins between 1948 & 1953; only player to finish top 2 on tour in 13 events in a year more than twice (1941,1946,1948). There's much more but these above feats are enough to elevate him to the top because they are spread over the 3 most telling areas of criteria of golf greatness: (1) performance in the US Open which is the national championship and the oldest and most challenging of all competitions in American golf because it is played on a different venue each year; (2) modern majors; (3) the US tour.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👌🏼🏌️
Hogan is my favorite athlete of all-time, but I think him, Nicklaus, and Woods are indistinguishable as the best
If anyone wants to argue who was the best, I say something like this. You cannot compare one era to another and end up with anything noteworthy. You cannot compare, for example, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds and if that isn't obvious to you, then there is no sense talking about it. Hogan was one of the best ever along with half a dozen others. I think I can say that and be happy about it.
Its a crime Ben couldn't play the PGA in 1953 as he was at Carnoustie winning the Open there.
Well said buddy I've thought the same thing hundreds of times also how much more amazing would his record be without that near fatal car accident he was in also being in the war for yrs unbelievable really yes Nicklaus might be the greatest winner of all time but Mr Hogan for me is and will always be the greatest golfer of all time
Not sure he physically could’ve due to the PGA Championship format - 36 holes day...his body - after the accident- couldn’t take it.
@@boy_peeps Could be right there tbh buddy ....but being a massive Mr Hogan fan myself I do think if the timing date say was different and he could of made that tournament then he would of definitely tried with everything that he had etc due to what was at stake. .....people including his inner circle didn't believe he could cope with the arduous strain on his body in the Open championship etc but his sheer determination and drive got him through and saw him win the event on his 1st and only attempt
lee sale I just saw your comment for the first time today. It made me sick and enraged when all of the announcers at the 2019 Masters were falling all over themselves to proclaim “the greatest comeback in sports history” when Tiger Woods was winning another major. I am not saying that Tiger’s comeback should be looked down upon. It is a huge achievement. He deserves a great deal of credit for his efforts to resurrect his game to the point he can win again, even a major. But to say that his back issues were more severe and his struggle was greater than the struggles that Mr. Hogan had trying to put his body back together after his automobile accident is just not the case. All I can say is, if anyone thinks that Tiger’s comeback was greater, they are entitled to their opinion. However, I think anyone that has been hit by a bus that crushed his legs and mangled the rest of his body might see things a little differently. I guarantee you Mr. Hogan’s pain was much more severe than Tiger’s especially when you consider all of the advances that have been made in medicine that help athletes both work through and recover from injuries. For those announcers to virtually ignore the comeback of Mr. Hogan was just totally off base. Not to wish ill on anyone, but I bet if any of those announcers had been hit by a bus, they might feel a little differently about the level of their praise for Tiger overcoming a bad back.
Get my PTx irons this week!!
OK, the golf criteria that the media & fans are obssessed with is "modern" majors. I say age 21 to 40 is the full prime of a pro golfer. Just taking a player's attempts during those career years & dividing them by wins to also include any winning attempts before or after those ages will produce a fair & accurate majors record of a great player. These are the results of the following contenders for GOAT. Ben Hogan 10 wins / 34 attempts (including his 1942 Hale America National Open win) .294%. Jack Nicklaus 18 Ws / 79 atts (including his win at age 46) .228%. Tiger Woods 15 Ws / 71 atts (including his win at age 43) .211%.
Ben Hogan was the greatest golfer who ever lived. Period.
And the more one learns about him and all the eras of the game it becomes more and more obvious that it isn't even close in relation to all the others who have ever played the game.
How can anyone compare to Nicklaus's record. After Hogan played the last 36 hoes of the 1960 US Open with amateur Jack Nicklaus he said"I just played with a fat kid from Ohio that should have won this tournament by ten shots if he knew what he was doing." Of course Hogan did hit the first 34 greens of the final day.
In 1942 Hogan shot TWO 271s to win the N & S Open (Pinehurst) and the Hale America National Open. It would be 52 years of golf technology before another player shot that low to win 2 of the 4 biggest stroke events. Hogan finished in the top 10 AND scored under 290 in 12 straight US Open attempts between 1941 & 1956. The next longest such streak is 4. Think is has been a little easier to break 290 in the last half century. This is just the tiny tip of the iceberg of reasons why Hogan is the greatest and it's really not close.
Hogan was masterful, but no one's career matches Jack's. That indisputable.
Joel Mc
Probably true, but Jack was able to play in many more tournaments. Also people forget Bobby Jones has a phenomenal record from age 21 to 28 when he quit. He played only part time and won or placed 2nd in a huge percentage of the majors. Really a stunning record.
The legacy continues.
The GOAT
True statement there buddy. ..no one can deny that Nicklaus was the Greatest Champion at present of all time but like yourself in a massive Mr Hogan fan period and I do definitely believe that he was the GOAT best course manager best striker of the bag by a distance throughout the whole bag best stratigest by a margin also ....just such a pity that he was absent from the game In the best period of his life say firstly due to the War then from that near fatal car accident he had can only imagine how much more extraordinary his record could of been don't you think. .....even Tiger Woods has stated before that Mr Hogan is by far the most reverred golfer ....not just by Amateurs but also Touring pros etc .........no one i believe in the history of the sport had so much control throughout the golf bag on such a high consistent basis than Mr Hogan. ..I've had this conversation with friends so many times and when they try to debate this question and do a little bit of research say no one to this day can answer or give me a name where they have had more control period than Mr Hogan. ....you just can't do it this guy is a legend period I would of done anything to had the chance to go back into time and see and watch him attack and demolish some of these championship courses
Hell, I didn't know they were still making Hogans!
They aren't, unfortunately. The Company went out of business.
Well , THE GREAT BEN HOGAN WAS FROM VERY FAR THE BEST GOLFER IN HISTORY'S GAME SINCE THE BEGUINING ! HIS SWING WAS A MACHINE GUN ! THAT' S WHY HIS CLUBS WAS CALLED & RECEIVED THE MARK AS "APEX" !
What a guy. My best round was with a Hogan ball. God knows how low I wooda gone using his clubs
Someone being “a natural” is completely mind-boggling to me. Surely this means they had good teaching at an early age
made in america - like they used to be?
Not yet.
anybody that plays the game of golf especially in the Pros cannot dispute any Pro that wins 18 majors & finishes 2 in 19 of them that is the greatest golfer ever to play the game & that is Jack Nicklaus ... in spite of Hogan best swing & greatest striker of the ball
That may be true. Hogan did have circumstances that didn't allow him to be as much in the record books.
Only played in the British Open once.
Served 3 years during WW2
Had a bear fatal car crash in 1949
Might need to consider percentages in this instance. Such as percent of wins, or even top 10's of tournaments played.
Jack is GREAT, but played in MANY more tournaments.
It's been said that Nicklaus watched Hogan practice but Hogan never watched Nicklaus. Jack is the GOAT but no one ever hit the ball better than Ben Hogan.
Too bad they went out of business 3 months ago…..I bought all I could afford and now they’re gone…..very sad. Why does this keep happening?
jenkins was a good writer but couldn't comb his hair to save his life
The guy was a yipping misery who couldn't trust himself to aim at the 11th green in Augusta with his approach.
So what's all this nonsense ?
Jack won twice as many majors, was twice as good a player, and twice as good a man.
Garbage. Hogan was a splendid man, just a little crusty. Had a very tough life with much less opportunity than Jack, who had a very easy life and played in many more tournaments. Bobby Jones won 13 majors playing part time and quit at 28. A phenomenal record.
Jack had all the advantages of a wealthy family and golf coach to start with and someone who puts himself between his wife and a bus is a pretty good man in my view.
@@afritimm You say 'majors' - 6 of them were amateur championships!
@@christopherfranklin972 Another reason I can't stand Hogan.
When the bus suddenly appeared, to his left in a left hand drive car, he naturally dove away from it, perfectly understandable, and that took him across his wife.
But of course Hogan disciples have to portray this as an act of wondrous Hogan heroism!
BTW, why was the stupid idiot driving in such thick fog anyway?
Happy New Year anyway!!
Do you even play golf?