Carnoustie, July 1953
Why Hogan’s Alley?
Back home, “Hogan’s Alley” means Riviera or Colonial. In Scotland it means one narrow strip of fairway on Carnoustie’s 6th hole.
In 1953 Ben Hogan crossed the Atlantic for the only Open Championship he would ever play. He had already won the Masters and the U.S. Open that year. He arrived early, learned the smaller British ball, and walked the links until he knew them.
On the long 6th, bunkers sit in the middle of the fairway and out of bounds runs down the left. The safe play is right. Round after round, Hogan drove into the gap between the bunkers and the fence, and opened up the green. The strip still carries his name.
His scores fell every day, 73, 71, 70, 68, and he won by four. The Scots called him the Wee Ice Mon. New York gave him a ticker-tape parade.
Preparation. Precision. Nerve.Not a bad way to plan a golf trip either.
- 73Round 1
- 71Round 2
- 70Round 3
- 68Round 4
- 282Won by four
