The 2012 US Golf Open has begun at Olympic club just outside San Francisco. The US Open has been played at Olympic five times. Back in 1955, the great Ben Hogan was in a playoff with unknown Jack Fleck. At the time Ben Hogan already had 4 US Open championships and was going for his unprecedented fifth win.
Ben Hogan was similar in stature back in 1955 to Tiger Woods. Ben had his own line of golf clubs, Hogan irons, that are still available today and played by pros. The only pro that played Hogan clubs at the time was Ben himself, that is until Jack Fleck called before the tournament and ordered a set of clubs.
Ben personally delivered the clubs to Jack Fleck before the tournament, and Jack started the tournament 9 strokes behind the leader Tommy Bolt. But Jack Fleck persevered and wound up in a tie with Hogan at the end of four rounds at 7 over par, plus 7.
The tournament would have to be settled the following day with an 18 hole playoff. As fate would have it, Jack Fleck would go on to win the playoff shooting 69 to Ben Hogan's 72. Jack Fleck would go on to win two more tournaments in his career but nothing matched the US Open win.
And it was all done with Ben Hogan clubs made to Jack Fleck's exact specifications.
Incredible.
With Love,
Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com
No comments:
Post a Comment