On the 10 July 1953, in his only Open Championship appearance, Ben Hogan won the 82nd Open Championship at the Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland, by four strokes over four runners-up, Antonio Cerda, Dai Rees, Frank Stranahan, and Peter Thomson, to win his third major championship of the year.
In the final round, the American amateur Frank Stranahan was out first and posted a 69 for a total 286 total, including an eagle at the last. De Vicenzo hit his ball out of bounds at the 9th and finished on 287. Hogan chipped-in for birdie at the 5th, then followed up with another birdie at 6. He opened up a two-shot lead at the 13th, and made another birdie at 18. Battling the flu, he finished with a round of 68 to better the record the Arbentinian, Antonio Cerdá, had set that morning. Hogans final six-under par score of 282 was four shots clear of the field.[
The total prize money was increased by nearly fifty percent, from £1,700 to £2,500, with the winner pocketing £500, £300 for second, £200 for third, £100 for fourth, £75 for fifth, £30 for next 20, and then £25 each for the remaining players.
The number of qualifiers was limited at 100, and ties for 100th place did not qualify, consequently only 91 players made the first day of play. Hogan qualified comfortably on 145.
Hogan, with the Masters and US Open titles, already under his belt, made the trip across the Atlantic, arriving in Carnoustie two weeks early to practice with the smaller British golf ball.
The policy of requiring all players to qualify, the small purse, the conflict with the US PGA Championship, and the lengthy ocean voyage, kept most Americans at home, and only four qualified for the first round, three were included in the 49 players who made the 36 hole cut .
Although the field of 91 that qualified was mostly British, a strong international contingent stood ready to challenge Hogan, including fellow Americans Lloyd Mangrum and the amateur Frank Stranaham, Peter Thomson of Australia, Antonio Cerda and Roberto De Vicenzo of Argentina, and the defending champion, Bobby Locke of South Africa.
The Open Championship was Hogan’s third major title of the year. but the modern Grand Slam was not possible, as the PGA Championship conflicted with the Open in 1953.
After his automobile accident in 1949, Hogan did not enter the PGA Championship until 1960, after it became a stroke play event. He had won the PGA Championship in 1946 and 1948 before his accident.
Hogan made a lasting impression on Carnoustie, the par-5 6th hole features a split fairway, with the right side being safer but the left offering a better angle to the green. Hogan found the narrow left side on the par 5 sixth hole in each of the four rounds, which is now known as ‘Hogan’s Alley’, Hogan remains the only player to win the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship in the same calendar year.
10 July, 2019