Walter Hagen
Name:
Walter Charles HagenCountry:
USALived:
[1892-1969]. Born on Dec 21, 1892 in Rochester, New York. Died on Oct 6, 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan (aged 76).Original/Home Club:
CC of Rochester (initially as a caddie).Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1912 (aged 19)MAJORS (11): The Open (1922, '24, '28, '29); US Open (1914, '19); US PGA (1921, '24, '25, '26, '27). Total professional wins (75), including PGA Tour (45). International wins included four Open Championships, the 1920 French and 1924 Belgian Open. Ryder Cup playing captain (1927, '29, '31, '33, '35); Ryder Cup non-playing captain (1937). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1974).
Walter Hagen is not renowned as a course designer, but he did lay out Koganei CC near Tokyo in Japan in 1937.
Hagen was a towering figure in the game of golf before the Second World War. Known as "The Haig" or sometimes "Sir Walter", he accumulated 45 wins on the PGA Tour, and captained the USA Ryder Cup team in the first six Ryder Cups to be played (1927-37). Among many outstanding accomplishments, he won 22 consecutive matches in the PGA Championship.
During his lifetime the flambouyant and increasingly wealthy Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf, and played a key role in improving the status of professional golfers. He helped change practices that denied professionals the same privileges as enjoyed by amateur golfers; admittance to some clubhouses was a particualr bone of contention. Hagen may well have been the first sports "superstar" to reach a million dollars in career earnings.
Played as the Inverness Four-Ball.
Played as the Gasparilla Open - Tampa.
America
x
Played as the Charleston Open (March 23-25). Resident professional and second-placed Henry Picard (USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA). [CC of Charleston, Charleston, SC].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (June 30-July 2). Second-placed Olin Dutra (USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded the last of his five wins in this event. [Canterbury GC, Beachwood, nr Cleveland, Ohio].
Played as the St Louis Open.
America
x
Played as the inaugural Coral Gables Open (March 14/15; 36-hole event). Third-placed Densmore "Denny" Shute (USA) finished 1 shot behind joint winners Walter Hagen (USA) and Henry Ciuci (USA), who tied on 143. [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL; at the time known as the Miami Biltmore CC].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (July 9-11, 14). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Percy Alliss (Eng) by 1 shot in a 36-hole Tuesday playoff (Hagen 73, 68; Alliss 72, 70). [Mississaugua G&CC, Mississauga, Ont.].
Played as the Miami International Four-Ball.
Played as the Great Lakes Open.
Played as the Long Beach Open.
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (64th) (May 8-10). Second-placed Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 6 shots behind defending champion Hagen (USA). This was the last of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, East Lothian].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (63rd) (May 9-11). Second-placed Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 2 shots behind Hagen (USA). This was the third of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Sept 8-10). Second-placed Al Espinosa (USA) and Bill Mehlhorn (USA) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded his fourth win in this event. [No.4 (North) course (par-70), Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL. One of the first two rounds for each player on the par-72 No.1 (South) course].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (10th) (Oct 31-Nov 5). Hagen (USA) beat Joe Turnesa (USA) 1-up in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's fourth straight US PGA Championship win, and the last of his five wins in this event. [Cedar Crest GC, Dallas, TX].
America
x
Played as the inaugural Eastern Open (July 18-20). Second-placed Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 9 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Wolf Hollow CC, Delaware Water Gap, PA; now known as Wolf Hollow at Water Gap CC].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Aug 26-28). Second-placed "Light Horse" Harry Cooper (USA) and Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 9 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded his third win in this event. [Highland G&CC, Indianapolis, Indiana].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (9th) (Sept 20-25 ). Hagen (USA) beat Leo Diegel (USA) 5 and 3 in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's third straight and fourth overall US PGA Championship win. [Salisbury GC, Westbury, Long Island, NY. Although Salisbury GC no longer exists, its Championship course is today's Red course at Eisenhower Park GC].
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (8th) (Sept 21-26). Defending champion Hagen (USA) beat Bill Mehlhorn (USA) 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's second straight and third overall US PGA Championship win. [Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (59th) (June 26-27). Second-placed Ernest Whitcombe (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). This was the second of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].
America
x
Played as the North & South Open (March 30/31). Second-placed Cyril Walker (Eng/USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). Walker finished second to Hagen in this event a year earlier, also by the same margin of two shots. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].
Played as the Princess Ann Country Club Open.
Europe
x
Played as the Belgian Open. Aubrey Boomer (Eng) finished in second place behind Hagen (USA). [Zoute GC, Knokke-Heist, West Flanders, Belgium].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (7th) (Sept 15-20 ). Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) 2-up in the 36-hole final. This was the second of Hagen's five US PGA Championship wins. [Ross course (formerly Hill course), French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana].
America
x
Played as the Texas Open (Jan 26-28). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Bill Mehlhorn (USA) in an 18-hole Sunday playoff (Hagen 72, Mehlhorn 73). Mehlhorn's six at the 18th in the playoff handed the win to "The Haig". [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
Played as the Kansas Mid-Continent Pro Ch'ship.
Played as the Asheville Biltmore Open.
America
x
Played as the North & South Open (March 29-31). Second-placed Cyril Walker (Eng/USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). Saturday's final 36-holes were washed out and played on Sunday. This was Hagen's third PGA Tour win in as many weeks. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina; opening 36-holes on No.3 Course].
America
x
Played as the Deland Open. Second-placed Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 8 shots behind Hagen (USA). [College Arms GC, DeLand, FL; converted to real estate in 1955].
Played as the White Sulphur Springs Open.
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (57th) (June 22-23). Second-placed Jim Barnes (USA) and George Duncan (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). This was the first of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Aug 24-26). Second-placed Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 5 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA), who won this event for the second time. [Oakwood Club, Cleveland Heights, nr Cleveland, Ohio].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (4th) (Sept 26-Oct 1). Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final, to claim the first of his five US PGA Championship wins. [Inwood CC, Inwood, Long Island, NY].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 28-31). Defending champion Walter Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Hagen 70, Barnes 74), to record his third straight win in this event. [Greenwich CC, Greenwich, Connecticut].
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
Played as the Bellevue Country Club Open.
Europe
x
Played as the Open de France. Hagen (USA) beat Eugène Lafitte (Fra) in a 36-hole playoff (Hagen 149, Lafitte 154). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (23rd) (June 9-12). Hagen (USA) beat Mike Brady (USA) in an 18-hole playoff (Hagen 77, Brady 78). [Main course, Brae Burn CC, West Newton, Mass.].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 10/11). Second-placed Emmet French (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). [North Shore CC, Glen Head, NY].
America
x
Played as the North & South Open (March 29/30; first time as a 72-hole event). Second-placed Emmet French (USA) and Jim Barnes (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 13-15; first year recognised as a PGA Tour event). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) and Charlie Hoffner (USA) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Hagen 74, Barnes 75, Hoffner 77). [Garden City GC, Garden City, Long Island, NY].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Aug 17/18). Second-placed George Sargent (Eng) and Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Blue Mound G&CC, Wauwatosa, nr Milwaukee, WI].
America
PGA of America
Played as the Shawnee Invitation tournament (Aug 8/9; first year recognised as a PGA Tour event). Second-placed Bob Macdonald (Scot/USA) finished 4 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Shawnee CC & Inn, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania; at the time the Inn was known as the Buckwood Inn].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (20th) (Aug 20/21). Second-placed Chick Evans Jr (USA, amateur) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). [Midlothian CC, Midlothian, nr Chicago, IL].
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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