The Open Question

Golfing legend Ben Hogan went to his grave believing he had won a record five US Open titles. The USGA says otherwise, and the controversy has endured for over 75 years.

In 1942, the United States Golf Association (USGA) cancelled its four golf tournaments for the duration of World War II. But then it did something different in only that yearit sponsored the Hale-America National Open on the same weekend as the cancelled US Open. The great Ben Hogan won that tournament and went to his grave believing he had therefore won a record five US Open titles.

InThe Open Question, Peter May turns his attention to this controversial, colorful Hale-America National Open of 1942. While providing an in-depth look at the tournament itself, May champions Hogans claim to five US Open titles and debunks some questionable assertions that the tournament was not worthy of a US Open. Set against the backdrop of World War II, May also tells the stories of other professional golfers in the tournament and the impact of the war on all their lives.

The USGA has never recognized the Hale-America Tournament as an official US Open and remains firm in its stance. It was a decision that bothered Ben Hogan for the rest of his life.The Open Questionshows how dominant Ben Hogan was against some of the biggest names in golf, and reveals why he deserves to be recognized as a five-time US Open winner.

Peter May has been covering and writing about sports for more than three decades, for the last several years as a Boston-based correspondent forThe New York Times. At theBoston Globe, he specialized in covering the Boston Celtics and the NBA, earning numerous writing awards. He also covered three Super Bowls, two World Series, the 2004 Olympics, and a number of international basketball tournaments. He is a senior lecturer in journalism at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. May is the author of four books:The Big Three: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish: The Best Frontcourt in the History of Basketball ;The Last Banner: The Story of the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, the NBAs Greatest Team of All-Time;Wont Back Down: Teams, Dreams and Family with Kim Mulkey , andTop of The World: The Inside Story of the Boston Celtics 2007-08 Championship Season .

Prologue

Preface

Part One Eleven Months

Chapter 1: May 1941-January 1942:The USGA Giveth and the USGA Taketh Away

Chapter 2: April-June 1942:Augusta, Seaview and East Lake

Part Two Four Days

Chapter 3: The Hale-America Round One, June 18:Ridgemoor and Mr. Icicle

Chapter 4: The Hale-America Round Two, June 19:Mr. 62

Chapter 5: The Hale-America Round Three, June 20:Good Times Jimmy

Chapter 6: The Hale-America Round Four, June 21:Ben and Bobby One Last Time

Part Three Controversy and Aftermath

Chapter 7: Controversy:When Is a US Open Not a US Open?

Chapter 8: October 1945 to August 1946:The End of Hostilities and the Return of the US Open

Chapter 9: The Back Nine:The Foursome on the Back Nine of Life

Epilogue:Preserving the Legacy: The Hoganistas