Biography of walter hagen

Hagen opened the championship with a U. Open record 68, a stroke ahead of defending champion Francis Ouimet. From there, the rest was history, and the year-old professional from Rochester, N. He had a total of forty-five PGA Tour victories, including eleven majors third all-timeall while changing the perception and guiding the development of the status for a professional golfer.

His play combined with his colorful personality helped create interest in professional golf at a time when many who cherished the amateur ideal looked down on the professional game. Hagen was born in Rochester, New Yorkas the only son of a local blacksmith. He was the second of five children, and began playing golf at the young age of five.

He would practice the sport by playing in the family cow pasture: "I would herd the cows all in one spot where I had made a hole, so they could eat the grass and make a gloss putting surface.

Biography of walter hagen: Walter Charles Hagen (December 21,

Andy Christy, the head pro at the club, gave Hagen lessons in his childhood, and was even challenged by Hagen during this tenure together, to a nine biography of walter hagen battle: "How about my beating you nine fast holes? His eyes covered me slowly for a few seconds, then he said, young man, when I want to play golf, I'll ask you.

He continued to succeed at both sportsbut eventually had to make a decision about which sport to pursue. As a teenager, Hagen decided that his talent and outgoing personality were better suited for a individual sport such as golf, rather than a team game. Hagen's drive to become a PGA pro started during the U. Open, held at the club for which he caddied.

After watching the field, he decided that his skill level was at least on par with the field, so he decided to start working harder on his game. His first tournament was in at the Shawnee Open, where he finished out of the money. The next year he cancelled a tryout for the Philadelphia Phillies in order to play in the U. Later that week, Hagen was crowned the U.

Open Champion, and his career was changed forever. FromHagen was one of the most dominant forces in golf as he won two U. Hagen was a player that always went for the win, and never backed off his aggressive style to play it safe and finish in the middle of the pack. This approach did not always serve him well. During his first trip to the British Open Hagen refused to change his confident style despite the famous winds, and ended up with an 83, good for second to last after the first round.

Walter rebounded from that disastrous showing, finishing sixth the following year at the British Open, and winning it in at Sandwich. He also was the captain of six American Ryder cup teams, and had a nine and one career record in the match play event. His only loss came to George Duncan in at Moortown Leeds. He won eleven majors, currently placing him third on the all time list.

Petersburg, Florida, in the late s. He had a stake in the club and elevated the status of professional golfers while influencing the growth of prize money. Throughout his career, Hagen played hundreds of exhibition matches across the United States and around the world. These tournaments significantly contributed to the popularity of golf.

Hagen also became widely known for his "dapper" wardrobe, which he showcased during his games.

Biography of walter hagen: Walter Hagen was.

His expensive outfits were made of luxurious fabrics and vibrant colors. As one of the world's top golfers, Walter found that his skills were in high demand during exhibition matches, and he realized that participating in such games brought him even greater rewards than competing in most tournaments. Hagen earned substantial amounts of money by endorsing various golf equipment.

He played a crucial role in assisting Wilson Sports in developing golf clubs, and they were named after him: "Walter Hagen" and "Haig Ultra. Improved golf equipment allowed for a different perspective on the game and raised its standards. Walter Hagen likely became one of the first athletes to earn a million dollars throughout his career.

Biography of walter hagen: His autobiography, The Walter

New York Herald. September 23, Further reading [ edit ]. External links [ edit ]. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walter Hagen. Walter Hagen in the major championships. Open champions. The Open Championship champions. PGA Championship champions. Walter Hagen in the Ryder Cup. American Ryder Cup captains. United States Ryder Cup team — Authority control databases.

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Chick Evans. Mike Brady. Jim Barnes. Ernest Whitcombe. William Mehlhorn. Leo Diegel. Joe Turnesa. Gene Sarazen. Johnny Farrell. The Open Championship. Masters Tournament. Won : 9.