Hogan's strategy on Oakmont's #1 & #10

[TEPaul]

This from an interesting conversation with Pete Trenham, the other day.

Ben Hogan, while playing Oakmont in the US Open, found the #1st and 10th greens so hard to hold if chipping or putting from in front of those two green or putting from above the cups (incredibly fast from front to back on both greens) that his strategy on both holes was to just hit the ball over the green on both holes on his 2nd shot (approach).

When asked why he did that he said: "The ball is going over the green anyway so I'd prefer to do it with my second shot instead of my third!

I thought that was hilarious but when you think about it he probably had a damn good point there and a pretty clever strategy!

[Tim Weiman]

Tom Paul:

Interesting.  During my visit back in June, I did see one player who finished short of the 1st green hit his 3rd shot over the back!

[TEPaul]

Actually there's a little family history to that Open when Hogan did that at Oakmont. I think I posted this once before on here, maybe even twice but these days I can scarcely remember what I said or did yesterday, so I'll post it again.

My Dad played in a couple of Opens and one was that Open at Oakmont. Matter of fact, he was playing with Art Wall right behind Hogan.

Up ahead Hogan had the fairway and green ringed with spectators and fans, hundreds, maybe a thousand of them and Art Wall and Dad had nary a soul following them.

As they proceeded down #1 a drunk came off the road on the right, through the bushes and attached himself to Dad and started saying things to him like; "Hey, you're the greateat Pal, you can do it, I know you can!!"

Well this really pissed off Art Wall and on the 2nd hole some cops showed up and Wall had them collar this friendly drunk and throw him off the property.

Dad said: "What are you doing, Hogan has a thousand fans up there to help him and you guys are throwing out my one and only fan!"