1953 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 5 SCORES
PLAYER, COUNTRY SCORES WINNINGS
1. BEN HOGAN, USA 73-71-70-68 $800
T2. ANTONIO CERDA, ARG 75-71-69-71 $0
DAI REES, GBR 72-70-73-71
FRANK STRANAHAN, USA 70-74-73-69
PETER THOMSON, AUS 72-72-71-71
Results: GolfObserver.com
over the short putts,
taking what seemed like
forever to pull the trigger. The anguish turned
demonstrative for Timms, Hogan’s caddie,
during the first round.
Dodson writes: “Carnoustie’s greens
were hard, but once again, several Hogan
birdie putts came up maddeningly short,
while others slid past the holes. At several
points during the round, Timms actually
dipped his head and covered his eyes so
he wouldn’t have to watch his employer
anguish over these efforts. He waved his
lanky arms too and more than once sighed
loudly with exasperation as putts stopped
short or missed the target.
“If it’s so damned hard to watch,”
Hogan finally snapped at him, “just stand
there, Timmy, and look away. Don’t make
such a show out of it. For God’s sake,
calm down.”
Hogan shot 73 in the first round and
trailed American Frank Stranahan by
three. Between Hogan and the leader
were international stars Roberto DeVi-
cenzo, defending champion Bobby Locke,
Dai Rees and Peter Thomson, who, the
following year, would win the first of five
Open Championships.
In Thursday’s second round, Hogan shot
71 that could easily have been four or five
shots better had he made any putts. But
the critical moment came late in the day
when the skies opened and rain poured on
Hogan. He started the makings of a nasty
cold and would face 36 holes on Friday.
Tied for second with Stranahan, Hogan
entered the third round with a full-blown
case of the flu. His body temperature
reached 103 degrees and he received a
shot of penicillin from a local doctor. His
legs were heavily bandaged and Valerie
insisted that he was in no condition to play.
Hogan asked CBS Radio correspondent
John Derr not to mention over the air that
he had the flu and Derr acquiesced.
Hogan limped through the third round
with a 1-under 70 that tied him for the
lead with DeVicenzo. Thomson, Rees
and Antonio Cerda were tied for third,
one shot behind the leaders. One by one,
the challengers fell into the dunes and
Hogan found himself in the lead. The best
anyone else could do was 2-over 286 and
Hogan was three clear of that number.
Dodson writes: “At 16, the long par
3, Ben drilled a magnificent 4-wood to
25 feet of the cup. ‘John,’ he remarked
almost casually to Derr as they walked
toward the green, ‘you can go get ready
for that interview now. This tournament
is over.’ ”
“It gave me goose bumps when he said
that,” Derr recalls. “The certainty in his
voice was absolute, almost chilling.”
Hogan recorded a 3-under 68 in the
final round for a 282 total. The 68 was a
Carnoustie competitive record and the
72-hole result was the lowest in Open
Championship history.
He was asked by reporters if he
planned to play in the Ryder Cup later that
fall and whether he would be back to defend his Open Championship title. He said
he was too tired to play the Ryder Cup and
made overtures that this would be his one
and only Open.
“I’m 40 and there isn’t much mileage
left in this old frame,” he said. “It’s time I
took it easy.”
Nothing about Hogan was easy. It was
a week – and a career – that was anything
but. l
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