Overview

Walter Hagen was one of the first professional golfers to make his living playing the game rather than teaching it. He won eleven professional major championships: two U.S. Opens, four British Opens, and five PGA Championships - a figure eclipsed so far only by Jack Nicklaus. Most amazing was his streak of four consecutive PGA wins. He helped to create the Ryder Cup, and was the first U.S. golfer to top $1 million in career prize money - a figure that would equate to over $40 million today. In the Golden Age of Sports during the 1920s, Hagen was to golf what Babe Ruth was to baseball. Award-winning sports writer Tom Clavin has penned a thrilling biography that recalls Hagen's dazzling achievements and the qualities that made him a star. Hagen was an energetic, witty man who loved to party, was extraordinarily generous to his friends, and travelled the world over giving exhibitions. On his many trips across the Atlantic to compete in the Ryder Cup or the British Open, Hagen was known to throw days-long parties that would end only when the ship reached shore. Hagen was the first to admit playing not only for his love of the game, but also for his love of the winner's purse. It was that competitive, glamorous spirit that made this superbly gifted player the forerunner of today's sports superstars - and one of the most compelling golfers the world has seen.

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The records and numbers alone speak volumes about Walter Hagen's career. But as I grew older, both personally and professionally Walter Hagen's place in history became very clear to me. Each time I was fortunate enough to carve out my own bit of history, my name was frequently linked to Hagen's, so I obviously became aware of the standards he set. <p> -- Jack Nicklaus

The records and numbers alone speak volumes about Walter Hagen's career. But as I grew older, both personally and professionally Walter Hagen's place in history became very clear to me. Each time I was fortunate enough to carve out my own bit of history, my name was frequently linked to Hagen's, so I obviously became aware of the standards he set. <p>-- Jack Nicklaus<p>

The records and numbers alone speak volumes about Walter Hagen's career. But as I grew older, both personally and professionally Walter Hagen's place in history became very clear to me. Each time I was fortunate enough to carve out my own bit of history, my name was frequently linked to Hagen's, so I obviously became aware of the standards he set. -- Jack Nicklaus Hagen was impressive because he was a showman. He would have a real tough shot, and he would walk up and just play it. But when he had a shot that looked fairly tough, though it was easy, why he'd move around and look at it a bit and make people think it was a real hard one. Of course, then he'd do the shot that folks thought was impossible, and the crowd loved it. -- Byron Nelson The difference between Hagen and other players is that he just wins and they just don't. -- Bernard Darwin, The Times (London) I think Walter Hagen contributed more to golf than any player today or ever. He took the game all over the world. He popularized it here and everywhere. Walter was at the head of the class...[he] made professional golf what it is. -- Gene Sarazen

"""Hagen was impressive because he was a showman. He would have a real tough shot, and he would walk up and just play it. But when he had a shot that looked fairly tough, though it was easy, why he'd move around and look at it a bit and make people think it was a real hard one. Of course, then he'd do the shot that folks thought was impossible, and the crowd loved it."" -- Byron Nelson ""I think Walter Hagen contributed more to golf than any player today or ever. He took the game all over the world. He popularized it here and everywhere. Walter was at the head of the class...[he] made professional golf what it is."" -- Gene Sarazen ""The difference between Hagen and other players is that he just wins and they just don't."" -- Bernard Darwin, ""The Times (London)"" ""The records and numbers alone speak volumes about Walter Hagen's career. But as I grew older, both personally and professionally Walter Hagen's place in history became very clear to me. Each time I was fortunate enough to carve out my own bit of history, my name was frequently linked to Hagen's, so I obviously became aware of the standards he set."" -- Jack Nicklaus"

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