I was really excited to write a glowing review for this amazing biography of Ben Hogan -- one of the most inspiring and interesting golfers that has ever lived. Only I realized anything I could write would pale in comparison to the review Steve Jones has already done.
"Who is Steve Jones?" you ask. That would be the winner of the 1996 United States Open held at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloom-field Hills, MI (coincidentally the same place Ben Hogan won it in 1951).
Guess what book Steve attributes his win to? You got it -- this book, "Hogan." Steve said, "I don't think I would've won the Open without reading that book."
What makes Steve's win at the Open so outstanding is that he didn't get a free ticket to the dance; he had to qualify just like thousands of other golfers do every year (which why the U.S. Open is such a coveted trophy). Jones said reading this book changed his life. He realized he needed to pick up the pace when it came to his practice, as Ben is well known for practicing until his fingers bled. And he learned that he needed to focus completely on each shot, one of the things Ben did that made him such a successful champion.
The 1996 U.S. Open was a comeback story for Steve, who missed three years of playing after a dirt bike accident. Surely this pales in comparison to the incredible comeback Ben made after his car was struck head on by a Greyhound bus in 1949. Ben threw himself across his wife Valerie in order to protect her, and surely would have been killed had the steering column punctured the driver's seat.
This is a easy read and a inspiring book about a golf legend who is revered as the biggest workhorse and best ball striker to play the game.
In addition to this book, you might want to pick up a copy of "Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf." In this book, Ben gives you his secrets to copying his renowned golf swing.
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