[Golf] — Hogan, William Ben

Fine signature (“Ben Hogan”) on the front cover of a p🅰rogram for the 1942 Hale America National 🏅Open Golf Tournament

Program of Events Hale America National Open Golf Tournament Ridgemoor Country Club—June 18, 19, 20, and 21, 1942. [Chicago: Ridgemoor Country Club, 1942]

Large 4to (280 x 211 mm). 🅠36 pages, profusely i𒉰llustrated, unaccomplished Ridgemoor score card on p. 15. Original printed wrappers; a little worn and soiled, trace of dampstain at rear.

A fine souvenir of the only contesting of this wartime USGA-PGA golf tournament, signed by the winner, Ben Hogan. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the USGA executive committee cancelled the 1942 U.S. Ope𓃲n. However, after calls for golf to continue in some fashion, the USGౠA, PGA, and Chicago District Golf Association sponsored the Hale America National Open essentially as a substitute for the U.S. Open. Proceeds from the tournament benefitted the Navy Relief Society and the USO.

The tournament attracted a topflight field, including Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Jimmy Demaret, Lloyd Mangrum, Bobby Jones, and defending Open champion Craig Wood. Hogan won th𓃲e tournament with a 17-un🌊der-par 271 (72-62-69-68), besting runners-up Demaret and Mike Turnesa by three strokes. Many golf historians believe that the Hale, which was contested just as the Open would have been, should be counted as a tenth major championship for Hogan. The US Open did not resume until 1946 (Hogan won the tournament in 1948, 1950, 1951, and 1953), and the Hale was never played again.

PROVENANCE

PBA Gall𒁃eries, 8 February 2007 (Fine & Rare Golf Books), lot 203