1948 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1948 U.S. Open was the 48th U.S. Open, held June 10–12 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, northwest of Los Angeles. Ben Hogan won the first of his four U.S. Open titles at the course that became known as "Hogan's Alley," as it was his third win at Riviera in less than 18 months. He had won the Los Angeles Open at the course in early 1947 and 1948.[4][5][6] It was the third of Hogan's nine major titles; he had won his second PGA Championship a few weeks earlier. He was only the second to win both titles in the same year, joining Gene Sarazen in 1922.[2] Later winners of both were Jack Nicklaus in 1980 and Tiger Woods in 2000.

1948 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 10–12, 1948
LocationPacific Palisades, California
Course(s)Riviera Country Club
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par71
Length7,020 yards (6,419 m)[1][2]
Field171 players,[3] 57 after cut
Cut148 (+6)
Prize fund$10,000
Winner's share$2,000
Champion
Ben Hogan
276 (−8)
Riviera CC
Location in the United States
Riviera C.C.
Location in California

Although Sam Snead held the lead by a stroke after 36 holes with a record 138,[7][8] Hogan dominated the final two rounds, shooting 68-69 on Saturday for a total of 276 (−8), two shots ahead of runner-up Jimmy Demaret. Hogan decimated the U.S. Open scoring record (281 by Ralph Guldahl in 1937) by five strokes,[6] and his three rounds in the 60s was a tournament first.[9] The scoring record stood for 19 years, until bested by a stroke by Jack Nicklaus in 1967. Hogan's 8-under-par set a U.S. Open record that stood until 2000, when it was broken by Tiger Woods (12-under, broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011 at 16-under).

Eight months later, Hogan and his wife were involved in a serious automobile accident, a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus in west Texas.[10] The injuries he sustained prevented a defense of his title in 1949 while he recovered. Hogan returned to competition and won the U.S. Open in 1950, 1951, and 1953. (He led after 36 holes in 1952, but finished third.)

Ted Rhodes became the first African-American to play in the U.S. Open since 1913. He opened with 70, made the cut, and finished in 51st place.

This was the first U.S. Open played on the West Coast; the first in the western U.S. was a decade earlier, in 1938 near Denver. The first major played on the West Coast was the PGA Championship in 1929, played at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. At the time, the course at Riviera was the longest ever for a U.S. Open at 7,020 yards (6,419 m).[9]

Babe Didrikson Zaharias became the first woman to attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open, but her application was rejected by the USGA. They stated that the event was intended to be open to men only.[11]

Course layout

Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Yards5134664152454321664023854223,4463155694454401804401455854553,5747,020
Par544343444354544343543671

Source:[1]

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Lew Worsham United States194767747173285+16
Lloyd Mangrum United States194671727474291+7T21
Ralph Guldahl United States1937, 193873757571294+10T32
Tommy Armour Scotland
 United States
19277474WD

Missed the cut

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2TotalTo par
Lawson Little United States19407278150+8
Craig Wood United States19417675151+9
Gene Sarazen United States1922, 19327777154+12
Tony Manero United States19367878156+14
Olin Dutra United States19348275157+15
Chick Evans (a) United States19168178159+17

Source:[12]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, June 10, 1948

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Ben Hogan United States67−4
Lew Worsham United States
T3Ken Rogers (a) United States69−2
Sam Snead United States
T5Bobby Locke South Africa70−1
Toney Penna United States
Ted Rhodes United States
T8Skip Alexander United States71−1
John Bass United States
Charles Congdon United States
John Dawson (a) United States
Jimmy Demaret United States
Jim Ferrier Australia
Leland Gibson United States
Herman Keiser United States
Dave Killen United States
Lloyd Mangrum United States
Andrew Mills United States
Jim Turnesa United States
Marvin Ward (a) United States
Gene Webb United States
Al Zimmerman United States

Source:[13]

Second round

Friday, June 11, 1948

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Sam Snead United States69-69=138−4
T2Ben Hogan United States67-72=139−3
Bobby Locke South Africa70-69=139
4Jim Turnesa United States71-69=140−2
T5Charles Congdon United States71-70=141−1
Jimmy Demaret United States71-70=141
George Schneiter United States73-68=141
Frank Stranahan (a) United States72-69=141
Lew Worsham United States67-74=141
T10Herman Keiser United States71-71=142E
Joe Kirkwood, Jr. United States72-70=142
Toney Penna United States70-72=142

Source:[12]

Third round

Saturday, June 12, 1948  (morning)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Ben Hogan United States67-72-68=207−6
2Jimmy Demaret United States71-70-68=209−4
3Jim Turnesa United States71-69-70=210−3
4Sam Snead United States69-69-73=211−2
T5Charles Congdon United States71-70-71=212−1
Bobby Locke South Africa70-69-73=212
Jug McSpaden United States74-69-69=212
Lew Worsham United States67-74-71=212
9Smiley Quick United States73-71-69=213E
T10Herman Barron United States73-70-71=214+1
Joe Kirkwood, Jr. United States72-70-72=214

Source:[14]

Final round

Saturday, June 12, 1948  (afternoon)

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney ($)
1Ben Hogan United States67-72-68-69=276−82,000
2Jimmy Demaret United States71-70-68-69=278−61,500
3Jim Turnesa United States71-69-70-70=280−41,000
4Bobby Locke South Africa70-69-73-70=282−2800
5Sam Snead United States69-69-73-72=283−1600
6Lew Worsham United States67-74-71-73=285+1500
7Herman Barron United States73-70-71-72=286+2400
T8Johnny Bulla United States73-72-75-67=287+3300
Toney Penna United States70-72-73-72=287
Smiley Quick United States73-71-69-74=287

Source:[2]

References

  1. "Riviera layout for Open championship". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. June 11, 1948. p. 20.
  2. "Ben Hogan sets mark, wins Open". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. United Press. June 13, 1948. p. 1, sports.
  3. "Worsham begins defense of National Open title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 10, 1948. p. 20.
  4. "Ben Hogan captures $10,000 Los Angeles Open meet". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. January 6, 1948. p. 6.
  5. "Ben Hogan sets record in taking U.S. Open". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. June 13, 1948. p. 18.
  6. "Open golf win goes to Hogan". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 14, 1948. p. 13.
  7. Bartlett, Charles (June 12, 1948). "Snead's 138 sets U.S. Open golf record". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  8. "Snead takes Open golf lead with 138". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 12, 1948. p. 13.
  9. "Hogan's 276 wins Open, smashes Guldahl mark". Miami News. United Press. June 13, 1948. p. 1-C.
  10. "Ben Hogan is seriously hurt as car, bus collide head on". Milwaukee Journal. February 3, 1949. p. 7-L.
  11. Phlegar, Ben (April 7, 1948). "The Babe 'Not Welcome' In National Open Play". The Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. p. 11.
  12. "National Open golf scores". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 12, 1948. p. 13.
  13. Bartlett, Charles (June 11, 1948). "Hogan, Worsham tie at 67 for U.S. Open Lead". Chicago Daily Tribune.
  14. Bartlett, Charles (June 13, 1948). "Ben Hogan's record 276 wins U.S. Open". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.