as the best at match play. Hogan also added that Bobby Jones was probably the most gifted and talented player in golf. “Hogan did say that Bobby Locke was the best player he played one on one. He added if you want to know how good Booby Jones was, try hitting golf clubs with wooden shafts.” Hogan was very involved with the design of the clubs bearing his name, “He was 100% involved with the company’s final product decisions,” according to Ludwig. Another interesting fact about Hogan’s career centers around his U.S. Open victories. Officially, he has four U.S. Open wins, 1948, 1950, 1951, and 1953. During WWII, in 1942, the USGA did not officially host the U.S. Open, but Hogan won the Hale America National Open Golf Tournament, that was held in its stead. The USGA felt it was inappropriate to stage the U.S. Open in 1942. In cooperation with the PGA of America and the Chicago District Golf Association, they hosted a war-time substitute for the U.S. Open, the Hale America Open. It was held at the Ridgemoor Country Club near Chicago. For his win, Hogan received a USGA gold medal and $1,200 in war bonds. The inscription on that 1942 gold medal was the same as it appears on his four official U.S. Open wins, but on the flip side of his 1942 medal, it had different wording, “The Hale American National U.S. Open Championship.” “At some of our national sales meetings, Mr. Hogan would show the sales reps a small box which included five U.S. Open winner medals,” said Ludwig. “They were all the same, except for the one from 1942. He felt that he won five U.S. Open Championships.” Indiana Golf Journal
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