as a golf professional, and many of them relate to his time in the United Kingdom. Even though he had triumphed twice in the U.S. Open Championship he knew that his place in history as a true champion would only come if he could visit the U.K. and annexe the Claret Jug to his victories in the United States. On his maiden trip to Britain in 1920


he played in The Open at Deal where he finished last but one. This was a shock to him. He returned to compete again at St. Andrew’s in 1921. He finished 6th. In 1922, at Royal St. George’s, he finally achieved his goal of winning the title. In doing so he became the first American born golfer to win The Open. It was during this trip that he made one of his much quoted quips when, at 2 a.m. on the night before the final, some fans commented on the fact that he was still up drinking while his opponents were in bed, to which he responded,


conditions to do so. A splendid 4 at the downwind 14 made the task easier. The 15th, into the wind, was a difficult hole but he got his par. When he got on the 16th green in 2, he thought a 2 putt would give him a shot in hand for the final 2 holes. His 3 putt meant that he had to par the 17th, again into the wind. To his credit he succeeded in doing this. A 5 foot double breaking putt was required at the 18th to seal the victory. After the putt dropped Sir Walter


Above: Sir Walter, courtesy of the Tufts Archives


Opposite page: Mr and Mrs Hagen at Hoylake after his 1924 Open Triumph. Photo Getty Images


Walter Hagen; Flamboyant, dashing, assertive, exhibitionist, extrovert, popular, and idiosyncratic


“Maybe they are in bed but they are not sleeping.” Such was the recognition of his achievement that he became the first golfer to be given a ticker-tape parade in New York on his return home with The Claret Jug. 1923 saw Sir Walter competing at


Troon where he was expected to repeat his triumph of the previous year. This was not to be and the title was won by Arthur Havers. Both men became good friends and played a pivotal role in the founding of The Ryder Cup later in the decade. It was in Troon that Sir Walter experienced the de facto situation of not being allowed into the clubhouse. He subsequently refused to go to the presentation which took place there and went to a local hostelry with the fans instead. Hoylake was the venue for The Open


in 1924. Much effort had been expended in improving the links after the end of the war, but there was a feeling in the Club that further improvement was necessary. Harry Colt, Golf Course Architect, was engaged to see to this. In the 9 months prior to the Championship an extraordinary amount of work was undertaken, including the relocation of


the 8th, 11th and 17th greens and the creation of additional bunkers. The courageous decision to improve the course proved to be an inspired one and, to this day, the 8th and 11th remain some of Hoylake’s most challenging greens. Sir Walter just about qualified on the


second day at Formby needing to shoot 73 to add to his opening 83. Interestingly, he and Jim Barnes both arrived late at Formby and, for some inexplicable reason, Sir Walter was permitted to play and Jim Barnes was not - an interesting decision by The R&A! Jim had won the inaugural two PGA titles and also the U.S. Open in 1921. He went on to win The Open in 1925. The start of the Championship for Sir


Walter could be classed as indifferent and it was not until the end of the third round that he succeeded in levelling matters with Ernie Whitcombe. After nine holes of the final round Sir Walter was 2 better than Ernie, who then went on to shoot a splendid 35 on the back nine giving him a total of 302 for the Championship. Sir Walter needed a back nine of 36 to win. He achieved this, needing 1 under from the 11th in windy


threw his putter in the air – and never saw it again! After being carried shoulder high, along with Mrs. Hagen, from the green, they made their way to the Clubhouse where the committee departed from protocol and invited Mrs. Hagen to enter through the front door. After the presentation, the assembled members sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” accompanied by a chap playing a cornet. The victory at Hoylake was his 5th


major title and within 5 years he added another 6 to give him a total of 11. Only Nicklaus and Woods have more. His achievements are all the more laudable when one considers that Bobby Jones was at his peak at the same time and it was before the commencement of The Masters tournament. Sir Walter was also the pivotal American in the early years of the Ryder Cup. He captained the United States in the first six matches and played on the first five U.S. teams. Perhaps the greatest compliment to


Sir Walter was paid by the doyen of British golf writers, Henry Longhurst. When writing Hagen’s obituary in The Sunday Times in 1969 he declared: “Years ago I wrote in a book that, if I were cast on a desert island and allowed only one man for company, it would be you ‘Sir Walter’ and I never had reason to change my mind.” The ultimate compliment indeed. ■


Above: Sir Walter fulfilling a yen for a dream car


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2 014 MAGAZINE


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