Wikipedia

1948 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1948 U.S. Open was the 48th U.S. Open, held June 10–12 at Riviera Country Club in the northwest Los Angeles district of Pacific Palisades, California. Ben Hogan won the first of his four U.S. Open titles at the course that became known as "Hogan's Alley," as it was his third win at Riviera in less than 18 months. He had won the Los Angeles Open at the course in early 1947 and 1948.[4][5][6] It was the third of Hogan's nine major titles; he had won his second PGA Championship a few weeks earlier. He was only the second to win both titles in the same year, joining Gene Sarazen in 1922.[2] Later winners of both were Jack Nicklaus in 1980 and Tiger Woods in 2000.

1948 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 10–12, 1948
LocationPacific Palisades, California
Course(s)Riviera Country Club
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par71
Length7,020 yards (6,419 m)[1][2]
Field171 players,[3] 57 after cut
Cut148 (+6)
Prize fund$10,000
Winner's share$2,000
Champion
United States Ben Hogan
276 (−8)
← 1947
1949 →
Riviera CC is located in the United States
Riviera CC
Riviera CC
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Location in the United States
Riviera C.C. is located in California
Riviera C.C.
Riviera C.C.
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Location in California

Although Sam Snead held the lead by a stroke after 36 holes with a record 138,[7][8] Hogan dominated the final two rounds, shooting 68-69 on Saturday for a total of 276 (−8), two shots ahead of runner-up Jimmy Demaret. Hogan decimated the U.S. Open scoring record (281 by Ralph Guldahl in 1937) by five strokes,[6] and his three rounds in the 60s was a tournament first.[9] The scoring record stood for 19 years, until bested by a stroke by Jack Nicklaus in 1967. Hogan's 8-under-par set a U.S. Open record that stood until 2000, when it was broken by Tiger Woods (12-under, broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011 at 16-under).

Eight months later, Hogan and his wife were involved in a serious automobile accident, a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus in west Texas.[10] The injuries he sustained prevented a defense of his title in 1949 while he recovered. Hogan returned to competition and won the U.S. Open in 1950, 1951, and 1953. (He led after 36 holes in 1952, but finished third.)

Ted Rhodes became the first African-American to play in the U.S. Open since 1913. He opened with 70, made the cut, and finished in 51st place.

This was the first U.S. Open played on the West Coast; the first in the western U.S. was a decade earlier, in 1938 near Denver. The first major played on the West Coast was the PGA Championship in 1929, played at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. At the time, the course at Riviera was the longest ever for a U.S. Open at 7,020 yards (6,419 m).[9]

Babe Didrikson Zaharias became the first woman to attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open, but her application was rejected by the USGA. They stated that the event was intended to be open to men only.[11]

Course layout

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Main article: Riviera Country Club
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 513 466 415 245 432 166 402 385 422 3,446 315 569 445 440 180 440 145 585 455 3,574 7,020
Par 5 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 35 4 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 36 71

Source:[1]

Round summaries

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First round

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Thursday, June 10, 1948

Place Player Score To par
T1   Ben Hogan 67 −4
  Lew Worsham
T3   Ken Rogers (a) 69 −2
  Sam Snead
T5   Bobby Locke 70 −1
  Toney Penna
  Ted Rhodes
T8   Skip Alexander 71 −1
  John Bass
  Charles Congdon
  John Dawson (a)
  Jimmy Demaret
  Jim Ferrier
  Leland Gibson
  Herman Keiser
  Dave Killen
  Lloyd Mangrum
  Andrew Mills
  Jim Turnesa
  Marvin Ward (a)
  Gene Webb
  Al Zimmerman

Source:[12]

Second round

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Friday, June 11, 1948

Place Player Score To par
1   Sam Snead 69-69=138 −4
T2   Ben Hogan 67-72=139 −3
  Bobby Locke 70-69=139
4   Jim Turnesa 71-69=140 −2
T5   Charles Congdon 71-70=141 −1
  Jimmy Demaret 71-70=141
  George Schneiter 73-68=141
  Frank Stranahan (a) 72-69=141
  Lew Worsham 67-74=141
T10   Herman Keiser 71-71=142 E
  Joe Kirkwood, Jr. 72-70=142
  Toney Penna 70-72=142

Source:[13]

Third round

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Saturday, June 12, 1948  (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1   Ben Hogan 67-72-68=207 −6
2   Jimmy Demaret 71-70-68=209 −4
3   Jim Turnesa 71-69-70=210 −3
4   Sam Snead 69-69-73=211 −2
T5   Charles Congdon 71-70-71=212 −1
  Bobby Locke 70-69-73=212
  Jug McSpaden 74-69-69=212
  Lew Worsham 67-74-71=212
9   Smiley Quick 73-71-69=213 E
T10   Herman Barron 73-70-71=214 +1
  Joe Kirkwood, Jr. 72-70-72=214

Source:[14]

Final round

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Saturday, June 12, 1948  (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1   Ben Hogan 67-72-68-69=276 −8 2,000
2   Jimmy Demaret 71-70-68-69=278 −6 1,500
3   Jim Turnesa 71-69-70-70=280 −4 1,000
4   Bobby Locke 70-69-73-70=282 −2 800
5   Sam Snead 69-69-73-72=283 −1 600
6   Lew Worsham 67-74-71-73=285 +1 500
7   Herman Barron 73-70-71-72=286 +2 400
T8   Johnny Bulla 73-72-75-67=287 +3 300
  Toney Penna 70-72-73-72=287
  Smiley Quick 73-71-69-74=287

Source:[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Riviera layout for Open championship". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. June 11, 1948. p. 20.
  2. ^ a b c "Ben Hogan sets mark, wins Open". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. United Press. June 13, 1948. p. 1, sports.
  3. ^ "Worsham begins defense of National Open title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 10, 1948. p. 20.
  4. ^ "Ben Hogan captures $10,000 Los Angeles Open meet". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. January 6, 1948. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Ben Hogan sets record in taking U.S. Open". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. June 13, 1948. p. 18.
  6. ^ a b "Open golf win goes to Hogan". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 14, 1948. p. 13.
  7. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 12, 1948). "Snead's 138 sets U.S. Open golf record". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  8. ^ "Snead takes Open golf lead with 138". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 12, 1948. p. 13.
  9. ^ a b "Hogan's 276 wins Open, smashes Guldahl mark". Miami News. United Press. June 13, 1948. p. 1-C.
  10. ^ "Ben Hogan is seriously hurt as car, bus collide head on". Milwaukee Journal. February 3, 1949. p. 7-L.
  11. ^ Phlegar, Ben (April 7, 1948). "The Babe 'Not Welcome' In National Open Play". The Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. p. 11.
  12. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 11, 1948). "Hogan, Worsham tie at 67 for U.S. Open Lead". Chicago Daily Tribune.
  13. ^ "National Open golf scores". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 12, 1948. p. 13.
  14. ^ Bartlett, Charles (June 13, 1948). "Ben Hogan's record 276 wins U.S. Open". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
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34°03′00″N 118°30′04″W / 34.050°N 118.501°W / 34.050; -118.501

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