Walter Hagen

Walter Charles Hagen (December 21, 1892 – October 6, 1969) was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century.

His tally of 11 professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15).

Known as the "father of professional golf," he brought publicity, prestige, big prize money, and lucrative endorsements to the sport.

Hagen is rated one of the greatest golfers ever.

He made his top-class professional debut at age 19 at the 1912 Canadian Open, placing 11th, a good showing.

Hagen followed up with a surprise 4th place showing at the 1913 U.S. Open at Brookline where he stated that he was treated badly by the other professionals who knew nothing about him.

Hagen said "they pushed me off the tee and told me I could practice when they were through".

He vowed to play in the 1914 U.S. Open and "win it", and he did exactly that.

Hagen was also very skilled at baseball, primarily as a pitcher and shortstop.

He canceled a 1914 tryout for the Philadelphia Phillies in order to play in a golf tournament.

Later that week, Hagen was the U.S. Open Champion, and his career was changed forever.

Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf.

He emerged in an era when the division between amateurs and professionals was often stark, with the amateurs having the upper hand in some sports, golf among them.

This was especially true in Great Britain, the leading country in competitive golf when Hagen began his career.

Golf professionals were not allowed to partake of the facilities of the clubhouse, and were not allowed to enter the clubhouse by the front door.

At the 1914 Midlothian Open he brazenly entered the clubhouse then mingled with the rich members who were delighted at which that episode permanently opened the doors.

Beginning in 1918, Walter Hagen served as the first club professional at the now legendary Oakland Hills Country Club, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, northwest of Detroit.

He worked for Oakland Hills until 1919, and then became the first touring professional unaffiliated with a club, a status he held alone for several years.

On one occasion, at the 1920 British Open in Deal, Kent, Hagen hired a Pierce-Arrow car to serve as his private dressing room, because he was refused entrance to the clubhouse dressing room.

He hired a chauffeur, and parked the expensive car in the club's driveway; this behavior raised a few eyebrows in class-conscious Britain.

On another occasion, he refused to enter a clubhouse to claim his prize because he had earlier been denied entrance.

The 1920 U.S. Open in Toledo marked a turning point; the players, encouraged by Hagen, donated a large grandfather clock to the host Inverness Club, in appreciation of the club allowing access for the professionals to their clubhouse during the tournament.

Hagen represented the Country Club of Rochester early in his professional competitive career; he was well supported by its members and management for his external competitive ventures.

Hagen won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win The Open Championship, and won the Claret Jug three more times.

He also won the PGA Championship a record-tying five times (all in match play), and the Western Open five times when it had near-major championship status.

Hagen totaled 45 PGA wins in his career, and was a six-time Ryder Cup captain.

Born in Rochester, New York, Hagen came from a working-class family of German descent.

His parents were William and Louisa (Boelke) Hagen.

His father worked as a millwright and blacksmith in Rochester's railroad-car shops.

Walter was the second of William and Louisa's five children and the only son.

Hagen developed his golf game at the Country Club of Rochester, beginning as a caddie, and earned money to help support his family from pre-teen age.

He earned ten cents per round and was occasionally tipped another five cents.

Hagen played golf at every chance he got; caddie access to the course was limited to off-peak times, as it was elsewhere in the U.S. during that era.

Hagen, with assistance from head professional Alfred Ricketts, gradually improved his golf skill to the stage where he was an expert player by his mid-teens, and was then hired by the club to give lessons to club members and to work in the pro shop.

In 1924, Hagen was president and co-owner of the Bear Creek Golf and Country Club associated with Jack Taylor's Pasadena-On-The-Gulf development in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Due to influence from the public, the name was changed to the Boca Ciega Golf and Country Club and ultimately the Pasadena Yacht and Country Club.

Hagen was a dashing and assertive character who raised the status of professional golfers and improved their earnings as well.

Throughout his career, he played hundreds of exhibition matches, all across the United States and around the world; these tours popularized golf to an immense degree.

Hagen was also widely known for his dashing wardrobe while playing; this featured expensive tailored clothes in bright colors and plush fabrics.

As one of the world's top players, Hagen found his skills were much in demand with this exhibition format, and concluded it was much more lucrative than playing most tournaments.