Let’s Give Him Five for Accomplishment

I just read Jim Murray’s moving tribute to the late Ben Hogan and I have a suggestion for Mr. Murray: If you (not seriously, I’m sure) considered yourself to be a “bad luck” charm in Mr. Hogan’s life, now’s your chance to make amends. Hogan won something called “the National Open” during World War II; the U.S. Open had been ostensibly canceled.

Nevertheless, the USGA awarded Ben Hogan a medal for this victory that was virtually identical to the medals he earned for his four other (recognized) Open victories.

Mr. Murray, I think you should lobby the USGA to posthumously recognize Hogan as a five-time Open champion. This way you can exorcise the memory of Hogan’s ’55 Open loss and earn your friend one more Open victory. Hogan himself wouldn’t mind; he always considered himself to have won the Open five times anyway.

CHUCK ROSE

Temple City