Ben Hogan's 100th Birthday

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Ben Hogan was born Aug. 13, 1912, which makes Monday the 100th anniversary of his birth. Here's a look back at the career of the "Wee Ice Mon." Ben Hogan finished second to Byron Nelson in the 1942 Masters. They were tied after 72 holes, and Hogan led by three after five holes of the 18-hole playoff, but then Nelson caught fire. He shot five under on the final 13 holes to win, 69-70.

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Playing the first post-war Masters in 1946, Herman Keiser and Ben Hogan both three-putted the 72nd hole, and Keiser won by a shot. Above, Hogan indicated the length of the putt he missed to Keiser, center, and Bobby Jones, the tournament's founder.

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Hogan won his first U.S. Open title in 1948 at Riviera in Los Angeles.

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Hogan won his second PGA Championship title in 1948 at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis.

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This shot of Hogan's 1-iron approach on the 72nd hold of the 1950 U.S. Open is one of the most iconic in golf history. His ball found the 18th green at Merion, and he made par to reach an 18-hole playoff, which he won. Only 16 months before, Hogan survived a near-fatal crash with a Greyhound bus in Texas. Doctors wondered if he'd ever walk again, much less play professional golf.

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Hogan with USGA President James Standish Jr. after the 1950 U.S. Open win at Merion. Hogan endured tremendous pain to win the tournament and played with his legs in bandages.

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Hogan and his wife, Valerie, with the trophy.

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Hogan won his first Masters in 1951, shooting 68 with no bogeys on Sunday.

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Hogan won his second Masters title in 1953, his greatest season. His 14-under total set the tournament record by five shots.

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Bobby Jones with Hogan and Ed "Porky" Oliver, the runner up in '53. Far left is Clifford Roberts, the Augusta National chairman.

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Hogan won his second straight major, and fourth U.S. Open, in 1953 at Oakmont.

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Hogan finished six strokes ahead of runner-up Sam Snead.

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Later in '53, Hogan chose to travel to Carnoustie for the British Open instead of staying in the States to play the PGA. It was the only Open appearance of his career, and he won by four strokes to secure his third major championship of the season. The Scottish fans adored the champion they called the Wee Ice Mon.

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At the 1954 Masters, Hogan lost to Sam Snead by a shot in an 18-hole playoff.

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Hogan was on the cover of the April 4, 1955, cover of Sports Illustrated for its Masters preview.

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In the 1955 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Hogan finished second to Jack Fleck in one of the biggest upsets in golf history.

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Fleck's win denied Hogan what would have been a record fifth U.S. Open title.

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Hogan tied for second in the 1956 U.S. Open at Oak Hill.

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Hogan was on the cover of Sports Illustrated again in 1957 for the start of his series of golf lessons, "The Modern Fundamentals of Golf." The articles, written with Herbert Warren Wind, were released as a book that became a classic of golf instruction. (See the series here.)

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At the 1961 U.S. Open, he tied for 14th. He played only two more U.S. Opens after that, in 1966 and 1967.

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A statue of Hogan looks over Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. When his playing days were over, Hogan focused on his equipment business. He died on July 25, 1997.

Ben Hogan's 100th Birthday

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Ben Hogan's 100th Birthday

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