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Miracle at Merion: The Inspiring Story of Ben Hogan’s Amazing Comeback and Victory at the 1950 U.S. Open Hardcover – October 8, 2010

Legendary sportswriter Red Smith characterized Ben Hogan’s comeback from a near-fatal automobile crash in February 1949 as “the most remarkable feat in the history of sports.” Nearly sixty years later, that statement still rings true. The crowning moment of Hogan’s comeback was his dramatic victory in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia, where his battered legs could barely carry him on the 36-hole final day. Miracle at Merion tells the stirring story of Hogan’s triumph over adversity—the rarely-performed surgery that saved his life, the months of rehabilitation when he couldn’t even hit a golf ball, his stunning return to competition at the Los Angeles Open, and, finally, the U.S. Open triumph that returned him to the pinnacle of the game.
While Hogan was severely injured in the accident, fracturing his pelvis, collarbone, rib, and ankle, his life wasn’t in danger until two weeks later when blood clots developed in his leg, necessitating emergency surgery. Hogan didn’t leave the hospital until April and didn’t even touch a golf club until August. It wasn’t until November, more than nine months after the accident, that he was able to go to the range to hit balls. Hogan’s performance at the Los Angeles Open in early January convinced Hollywood to make a movie out of his life and comeback (Follow the Sun, starring Glenn Ford). Five months later, Hogan completed his miraculous comeback by winning the U.S. Open in a riveting 36-hole playoff against Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio, permanently cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s true legends.

While Hogan was severely injured in the accident, fracturing his pelvis, collarbone, rib, and ankle, his life wasn’t in danger until two weeks later when blood clots developed in his leg, necessitating emergency surgery. Hogan didn’t leave the hospital until April and didn’t even touch a golf club until August. It wasn’t until November, more than nine months after the accident, that he was able to go to the range to hit balls. Hogan’s performance at the Los Angeles Open in early January convinced Hollywood to make a movie out of his life and comeback (Follow the Sun, starring Glenn Ford). Five months later, Hogan completed his miraculous comeback by winning the U.S. Open in a riveting 36-hole playoff against Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio, permanently cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s true legends.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When golfer Ben Hogan won the 1950 U.S. Open less than two years after nearly dying in a car crash, sportswriter Red Smith called the comeback “the most remarkable feat in the history of sports.” Sixty years later, though, the details of Hogan’s ordeal have dimmed, even for avid golf fans. Barrett’s well-researched recounting of the tournament and the events that led up to it brings the remarkable story back to vivid life. Nothing was easy for Hogan, who grew up poor in the shadow of his father’s suicide and struggled for years to perfect his golf swing. It all came together for him in the late 1940s, however, but his career seemed over after the accident. Determined to play again, despite permanent damage to his legs, Hogan put his game back together in time for the Open, tying for the lead on the final day, after a 36-hole endurance test, and winning the 18-hole playoff the next day. Barrett lacks the flair for narrative nonfiction that distinguishes Mark Frost’s similar accounts of great moments in golf history, but in this case, the facts speak for themselves. A must-read for anyone who cares about golf. –Bill Ott

Review

“With Miracle at Merion, David Barrett has brilliantly dissected the sequence of events that transformed Hogan from the game’s hardest-working underdog into it’s most mythic and enduring star, providing a beautiful narrative framework for better understanding the game’s transcendent power. If I was buying just one golf book this year, this would be it. A bravura reconstruction that should be in every golf reader’s library.” —- James Dodson, bestselling author of Ben Hogan: An American Life
“Barrett’s very thorough research and straightforward prose are just right for the topic. Hogan fans will love Miracle at Merion.” —- Curt Sampson, bestselling author of Hogan

“Barrett’s very thorough research and straightforward prose are just right for the topic. Hogan fans will love Miracle at Merion.” —- Curt Sampson, bestselling author of Hogan

Product details

• Publisher : Skyhorse; 1st edition (October 8, 2010)
• Language : English
• Hardcover : 320 pages
• ISBN-10 : 1616080825
• ISBN-13 : 978-1616080822
• Item Weight : 1.05 pounds
• Dimensions : 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches

• Best Sellers Rank: #183,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Sports Essays (Books)
  • #248 in Sports History (Books)
  • #313 in Golf (Books)

• Customer Reviews:

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

192 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 1, 2019

This book is much more than an account of Hogan’s US Open victory in 1950 after almost dying in a car crash just a few months prior. It is an honest story of the fledgling PGA tour and the top players of a bygone era. Few touring pros were from even middle class backgrounds. Most grew up hardscrabble, just like Hogan. I particularly appreciated accounts of touring pros helping one another, sometimes with swing tips and sometimes with money loans, to stay on tour. By the time of the 1950 US Open Hogan at Merion had proven that he was competitive, having almost won the Los Angeles Open earlier in the year. The big question was whether or not he could walk thirty-six holes on the final day. There is some controversy about whether he almost walked off the course during the final nine holes, feeling that he was at the end of his endurance. His caddy said that Hogan tried to quit after putting out on a hole near the clubhouse, but that he (the caddy) told Hogan that he did not carry for quitters and walked to the next tee with Hogan’s bag. Hogan never confirmed or denied the story. Hogan was not superhuman and did hit the occasional bad shot. In fact he was a rather small, wiry man. But he made up for his lack of physical stature with pure hard work–hour upon hour each day on the practice tee, something that few professionals of his era tried to match. The fact is that no one could out-work Hogan, who always claimed that the more he practiced the luckier he got. Now if only someone would write a similar book about Hogan’s greatest season, 1953, in which he won the Masters, US Open, and British Open. It was impossible for him to complete the Grand Slam, since the PGA was played too close to the same date as the British Open for Hogan to be able to compete in both events. A pity.

2 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 5, 2022

Very well written and a great read regarding the comeback of Mr. Hogan after his motor vehicle accident.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 2, 2014

Thank goodness I was able to see Hogan golf in person. Growing up we didn’t have yesterday’s great golfers come into our lives via television. Reading of Hogan’s triumphs (especially after his auto accident) we formed our impressions via the printed word or through viewing a short movie theater newsreel.
So I was able to follow him at the 1956 US Open at Oak Hill. Unfortunately he was master of all the clubs in his bag with the exception of his putter.
I enjoyed this book for the behind the scenes look at not only Hogan but for background tidbits about his contemporaries such at Mangrum, Snead, Nelson and others.
Having played Merion I could picture Hogan’s play as the author depicted it, making the book even more enjoyable.
Not a great book but from a nostalgic viewpoint, a very good book.

So I was able to follow him at the 1956 US Open at Oak Hill. Unfortunately he was master of all the clubs in his bag with the exception of his putter.

I enjoyed this book for the behind the scenes look at not only Hogan but for background tidbits about his contemporaries such at Mangrum, Snead, Nelson and others.

Having played Merion I could picture Hogan’s play as the author depicted it, making the book even more enjoyable.

Not a great book but from a nostalgic viewpoint, a very good book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 28, 2011

I was able to pick up a copy of this while it was free – very glad I did.
This is a wonderful story about Ben Hogan, his accident, and the amazing drive he showed to win the US Open over 90 holes of golf over 4 days. Frankly, I don’t know how he did it, considering his horrible physical condition, and survive the experience.
I would easily recommend this to anyone interested in golf, or the ability of a human to overcome tremendous adversity. The thought of Hogan diving across the car to protect his wife strikes a strong chord in this old married man. The information on the other golfers is also quite interesting, as well.
As noted in the book, the photo on the cover is probably the most famous photo in golf.

This is a wonderful story about Ben Hogan, his accident, and the amazing drive he showed to win the US Open over 90 holes of golf over 4 days. Frankly, I don’t know how he did it, considering his horrible physical condition, and survive the experience.

I would easily recommend this to anyone interested in golf, or the ability of a human to overcome tremendous adversity. The thought of Hogan diving across the car to protect his wife strikes a strong chord in this old married man. The information on the other golfers is also quite interesting, as well.

As noted in the book, the photo on the cover is probably the most famous photo in golf.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 9, 2011

I had a friend once ask me “so, what’s the big deal about this Hogan guy”. Well, to really understand the answer to the question requires reading considerably more about Hogan than just this once book but his miraculous comeback is well described here. The book doesn’t pull the reader through page turning as well as Mark Frost’s “The Match” but it is an engaging read. If you’ve played Merion before, you’ll really love the detailed hole descriptions. If you haven’t, the descriptions will make sufficient sense that you’ll get a real feel for it.
A very good read for any golf fan and particularly for any Hogan fans.

A very good read for any golf fan and particularly for any Hogan fans.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 6, 2019

I’m now re-reading it, so I guess it must be a very good book. But why aren’t there any pictures; not even the famous 1-iron shot?
P.S. I’m like the late, great Dan Jenkins, Jody Vasquez (whose book “Afternoons with Mr. Hogan” is a must read for Hoganoids), and many others who think the 1942 Hale America Open should count as Mr. Hogan’s fifth U.S. Open win.

P.S. I’m like the late, great Dan Jenkins, Jody Vasquez (whose book “Afternoons with Mr. Hogan” is a must read for Hoganoids), and many others who think the 1942 Hale America Open should count as Mr. Hogan’s fifth U.S. Open win.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 12, 2021

For a golf history fanatic, this is important and an important account. Particularly interesting for someone who understands the significance of Merion.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 16, 2014

I am a big Ben Hogan fan. This was a wonderful story about the single greatest golf shot in competitive golf
history. Lots of history about Mr. Hogan and other golfers. Interesting tidbits on how the game has changed and
evolved over time. All of this is built around a straightforward bio of Mr. Hogan. The portrayal of his determination
to play and win after his near fatal car accident is very inspiring. That the shot was made while his legs were wrapped
in bandages and he could barely walk (this was on the 36th hole of the day) makes it all the more inspiring.

history. Lots of history about Mr. Hogan and other golfers. Interesting tidbits on how the game has changed and

evolved over time. All of this is built around a straightforward bio of Mr. Hogan. The portrayal of his determination

to play and win after his near fatal car accident is very inspiring. That the shot was made while his legs were wrapped

in bandages and he could barely walk (this was on the 36th hole of the day) makes it all the more inspiring.

One person found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

drval

inspirational

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 7, 2014

A humanizing account of the inspirational life of Ben Hogan that also details the challenges and personalities of the adolescent PGA and USGA.

murray

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 1, 2018

Have not finished reading but am refreshing/remembering the time it happened.

GORDON MCKAY

What a read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 26, 2015

It is no wonder why Ben Hogan was held in such high regard by the golfing fraternity.What a legend he was

Amazon Customer

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 23, 2018

Nice read