Walter Hagen

Walter Charles Hagen (December 21st 1892 - October 6th 1969) was a great figure of the golf in first half of the XXe century. It was born with Rochester, New York, with the the United States. It counts eleven major tournaments with its credit and is preceded on this list only by only the Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. It gained the US Open twice and in 1922, he became the first American player to gain the British Open which he was going to gain four times on the whole. He was also the winner of PGA Championship with five recoveries (1921, 24-27). He counts 44 victories with his credit and was with six recoveries the captain of the American team of Ryder Cup.

Hagen was also very gifted for the Baseball. It cancelled a test for the team of Philadelphia Phillies to play a tournament of golf. At the weekend, he was the holder of the US trophy Open one and its sporting career had taken a final turn.

It was a key component in the development and the assertion of the professional golf. It was essential on one time or the difference between sportsmen amateurs and professionals was acute, the amateurs holding the top of the paving stone in certain sports of which the golf. It was particularly the case with the the United Kingdom which was the dominant nation as regards golf at the time of the beginnings of Hagen. The professional golfeurs were considered a little as mercenaries with whom one prohibited the use of the infrastructures of the club-houses. Sometimes, one prohibited to them to enter there while borrowing the principal door. Hagen was not man to let itself make. At the time a tournament where one had refused the access to the cloakrooms to him, it was presented in Rolls-Royce led by a driver (it had rented both for the occasion) and used the vehicle as a cloakroom. It is told that the driver also acted as servant and awaited it with coolings at the exit of the eighteenth hole. Another time, it refused to enter to the club-house to be made give its price because one had previously prohibited the access of them to him.

Walter Hagen was the first professional engaged by from now on legendary the Oaklands Hills Country Club, with Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Hagen was an impetuous and authoritative character who improved the statute of the professional golfeurs like their financial position. It could be that he was the first sportsman has to gain a million dollars during his career. He stated one day that he “had never wanted to be millionaire, to only live as if he were it”. He expressed his creed in these terms: “You are here only for one short stay. You do not hasten. You do not worry. And take care to breathe the perfume of the flowers along the way”. Gene Sarazen, ten years its junior, made this comment: “All the professional golfeurs… should thank Walter Hagen silently with each time they can palpate a check between their fingers. It is Walter who made professional golf what it is”.

Hagen died with Traverse City, Michigan at the 76 years age. It rests with the Mausoleum of the Sepulchre Saint to Southfield, Michigan, close to its grandson. With its death, he enjoyed a large respect. At the time of the funeral, its coffin was carried by certain legendary figures of the sport, like Arnold Palmer and George Morris.

It gained the following major tournaments:

US Open: 1914,1919
Open British: 1922,1924,1928,1929
PGA Championship : 1921,1924,1925,1926,1927

It had exceeded its top as a golfor when the other modern major tournament, the Masters was created. He was moreover captain of the team of the United States for the first six editions of the Ryder Cup and played during the five first: 1927,1929,1931,1933, and 1935.

He was allowed with the World Golf Hall off Famed.

Over the whole of its career, it gained 44 tournaments.

References

External bonds

World Golf Hall off Famed
Walter Hagen' S Home
Profile of Walter Hagen

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