Walter Hagen: Golf
Walter Charles Hagen (December 21, 1892 – October 6, 1969) was one of golf’s greatest players, winning eleven major championships and one of the first players to dominate and popularize the sport. Just like most golf players, he started caddying at an early age and used his free hour to practice the sport.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Walter Hagen won the U.S. Open twice and became the first native-born American to win the British Open four times.
He also won, a record 5-times, the PGA Championship and the Western Open, five times also.
He has a total of 45 PGA wins during his entire professional career and became a six-time Ryder Cup captain.
In 1974, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
Hagen was ranked the seventh greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine and eighth greatest player of all-time by Sports Illustrated.
Why Was He So Good?
He was a striking and confident character who raised the class of professional golfers and enhanced their earnings as well. His career spanned the first huge outburst of talent on the American golf scene, bringing color and glamour to golf. Hagen’s swing wasn’t always consistent but is recovery game was always good that he frequently got away with his errors.
What You May Not Know
- Walter Hagen was the first golfer to ever sign an endorsement deal.
- His first-ever major win is the 1914 U.S. Open and he was only 22 that time.
- Hagen was loud and stimulating off the course – spending money generously, staying at the best hotels, throwing the best parties and hiring limousines to take him to tournaments.
- Hagen’s eleven professional major wins in only third behind Jack Nicklaus with 18 wins and Tiger Woods with 14 wins.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More legendary Golf players
- Athlete Database home
- About the sport of Golf
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