The mystery of Hogan's 1-iron
The 1-iron Ben Hogan used to launch his famous shot at the 1950U.S. Open went missing, only to be discovered decades later.
SO, WHATEVER happened to Ben Hogan's 1-iron?
Well, nobody knows for sure. And never will. All we do know is that somewhere between the fourth round of the 1950 U.S. Open and the next day's 18-hole playoff, it went missing. Along with his shoes, as it turns out. And it remained that way for more than three decades.
In 1973, the executive director of the USGA, P.J. Boatwright Jr., wrote to Hogan asking if he would donate the club to the association's museum. That's when Hogan finally admitted he didn't have it.
Ten years later, club dealer Bobby Farino purchased an old set of MacGregor woods and matching irons for $150 at The Players Championship. Later he found another club, a 1-iron with "Hogan Personal Model" stamped on the face. Priceless.
Farino told former Wake Forest basketball player/coach Jackie Murdock, who was friends with fellow Demon Deacon Lanny Wadkins. So Wadkins, a native Texan like Hogan, was entrusted with returning it to the man who made it famous.
"You could tell it was [Hogan's]," Wadkins said. "If you looked at his equipment, there were giveaways. The flat lie, the firm shaft, the grip. He had a very special way of doing things, especially when it came to his clubs. It all had to be just right.
"He was working in his office when I took it over to him. He knew as soon as he saw it. I said, 'I think I have something that belongs to you.' And he said, 'I haven't seen this in a long, long time.' He couldn't believe it. It was pretty amazing."
Not long after that, Hogan gave it to the USGA for safekeeping. It has been with the USGA ever since. It was brought to Merion 2 months ago for U.S. Open media day. In some ways, it has never left.
- Mike Kern