The Legacy of Sir Walter Hagen

Posted on July 9, 2019

Walter Hagen changed the landscape of golf forever. He was supremely influential in raising the stature of the golf professional. His flair and style helped bring the first wave of golf popularity in America. Hagen was an integral part of the early years of the Ryder Cup. He earned 11 major championships, the 3rd most in PGA Tour history, and was the first American-born golfer to win the Open Championship. Learn about the legacy of the Haig.

Walter Hagen was born December 21, 1892 in Rochester, New York. Hagen began developing his golf game as a pre-teen working at the Country Club of Rochester as a caddie. His skills improved into expert level by his mid-teens, soon after he was hired to give lessons and work at the pro shop at the club. Hagen’s sports talent wasn’t limited to golf; he was also a skilled baseball player, usually playing pitcher or shortstop. He was scouted by the Philadelphia Phillies and offered a position on the team. However, Hagen ended up choosing the path of golf because he could control his own fate and not have to rely on teammates. His baseball background lead to Hagen having one of the widest stance in golf history.

Sir Walter went professional at the age of 19 in 1912 at the Canadian Open where he finished 11th. Hagen, as an unknown, competed at the 1913 U.S. Open arriving with the statement “I’m here to help you beat the Brits.” He finished in 4th place. In 1914 Hagen returned to the U.S. Open and emerged victorious, winning his first major championship with a course record first round of 68. Starting in 1918 Hagen became the first club professional at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he worked until 1919. He then became the first touring professional golfer that was not associated with a club.

In 1919 the Haig won his second U.S. Open championship. He then saw his greatest period of success in the 1920’s with 9 major championships. Winning the Open Championship four times and the PGA Championship five times, four of which were consecutive wins. This was quite an accomplishment considering Hagen’s career coincided with the first big wave of highly talented golfers on the American scene. He had plenty of great rivals like Gene Sarazen and Bobby Jones; Jones bested Hagen when they met in the majors but Hagen badly beat Jones in an exhibition match in 1926.

Walter Hagen made an impression at his first Open Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in 1920. He wasn’t allowed in the clubhouse, so Hagen rented a limo and parked it in front of the course to use as his private changing room. He won in 1922 becoming the first American-born golfer to capture the Claret Jug. Hagen loved the Open Championship, it was one of his favorite tournaments to compete in. He once lost an exhibition match in England the week prior to the Open by a tremendous margin, critics thought he had no chance that year. However, always the recovery artist, Hagen proved the doubters wrong by winning the Claret Jug that year.

While the Open was one of Hagen’s favorite, he excelled the most at the PGA Championship. Walter Hagen was one of the earliest golf psychologists and he used this to his advantage at the PGA Championship. The PGA Championship at the time was played as match-play. Hagen utilized every trick in the book to defeat his opponents. He’d play psychological tricks on them like using a choke down 4-wood shot when it was really a short iron shot, so as his opponent saw him use a 4-wood they would also use a wood but overshoot the green. Another trick Hagen used was inspecting his opponent’s lie and shake his head in disapproval.

In 1924, Hagen won his second PGA Championship and went on a four-year winning streak. When he lost in 1928, Hagen had to turn over the Wanamaker Trophy to the new champion Leo Diegel. However, three-years prior, in 1925, Hagen lost the trophy in Chicago. When cruising the town in a taxi, Hagen hopped out to join a friend heading to a club. He gave the cabbie $5 to bring the trophy to his hotel, which was the last time he saw it. In 1926, when asked about the trophy, Hagen joked he didn’t bring it because he didn’t intend to lose it. He finally had to admit he’d lost the trophy in 1928. A replica was made, which is now what the PGA Champion receives. In 1930, the original Wanamaker trophy was found in the basement of L.A. Young & Company, a firm which produced Walter Hagen golf clubs. It’s a mystery of how it arrived in that location, but it has since been retired and resides on display in the PGA Historical Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Walter Hagen wasn’t the most accurate off the tee box; he anticipated that he’d make at least seven mistakes a match. He never attempted to fix his game, he simply accepted his setbacks and focused on the next shot or round. What set Hagen apart was his excellent recovery skills and stellar putting. His short game was superb as he often made sensational shots. Interestingly over his near 30 years of competing he never three-putted on the 18th green.

His flare didn’t stop at his golf game; he was known for colorful outfits and was the first athlete to be named on the Best Dressed Americans list. He played to the crowds and helped fans get excited about golf. Sir Walter would often show up to tournaments in limousines, sometimes pulling right up to the first tee. Hagen would occasional arrive to the tee box in dinner coats or tuxedos to give the impression he’d been out all night. His flamboyant style and personality made him one of the first big superstars and ambassador for the game.

Hagen helped change the dynamic of the golf professional. When he entered the golfing world, the golf professional was below the amateur. It was looked down upon to earn money from sport. Hagen rallied fellow professionals and played a vital role in the formation of the Professional Golfers Association of America, the PGA. He changed the landscape and brought golfers from outside to inside the clubhouse. He became the first golfer to earn a million dollars.

Hagen played a critical role in the early days of the Ryder Cup, being the captain of the U.S. team for the first six Cups played. The Haig’s illustrious career began winding down in the late 1930s, with his last victory on the PGA Tour coming in 1936 at the Inverness Invitational Four-Ball. He played in his final major championship at the 1942 PGA Championship. Hagen didn’t capture the career Grand Slam because the Masters Tournament began after his prime, his best Masters finish was tying for 11th place.

Hagen passed away in 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan, at the age of 76. His legacy and impact on the game lives on as he’s considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. In 1974 he was an inaugural inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Categories: Golf History, Legends of Golf