In this day and age we are obsessed with authenticity and portraying ourselves as if we possess the greatness of the past by dressing like the people we admire. We foolishly don the cap and loafers and smoke the cigarette but fail to realize the long journey to the beauty of these characters. The Ben Hogan we know was elegant on the course and a master of the game but no one imagines his path. He started as a club fitter when he worked at a local club. He caddied and got to hit free balls and played everyday. His girl friend's father owned a movie theater, so the young Ben would watch the news reels over and over studying his idol, Bobby Jones' swing.
We never imagine that he could have had someone he admired as much as we admire him. Everyone has influences in all walks of life and it's the ones with passion that reach perfection. It's borderline obsessive compulsive. Mr. Hogan hit 12 shots with each club in the bag as his practice and he wasn't done until each shot went where he wanted it to go.
Ben Hogan 1912-1997
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