Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan achieved the miracle victory in the 50th Open Championship over the East course of the Merion Golf Club. Sixteen months after a nearly fatal automobile crash in Texas, Hogan was still walking in some discomfort, but he played an exacting course in 72-69-72-74-287, seven over par, and tied Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. The final 36 holes marked the first time Hogan had attempted two rounds in a single day since his injury. He lost strokes to par on the 15th and 17th holes of the last round when he seemed to have the Championship won. It was the 18th tie, and the sixth three-way tie, in fifty Championships, and as in all but four of the previous deadlocks, it was settled in one round.

Hogan came back to play a flawless 69 which won over Mangrum's 73 and Fazio's 75. Mangrum trailed by only a stroke with three holes to play but thoughtlessly picked up his ball to blow off an insect at the 16th green and incurred a two-stroke penalty. The record for a single round fell when Lee Mackey, Jr. opened with a 33-31-64, but he finished in a tie for 25th at 297. Prize money was increased again to approximately $15,000. The first professional now received $4,000 and every professional who returned a 72-hole score was assured of at least $100.