The Last Big One

Texas' Ben Hogan had won all but one of golf's top prizes in the most spectacular career since that of Bobby Jones. The one that eluded Ben nine times in the last 13 years is the Masters Tournament at Augusta, Ga., founded by the old master, Bobby Jones himself. Last week little (133 Ibs.) Ben Hogan, almost ready to retire at 38, tried again.

Before the tournament, having gone through nine days of meticulous practice, Ben explained why the Masters had always proved too much for the iron Hogan control. Said he: "The greens are tricky . . . and there are shots to the greens here that paralyze your thinking." But when the heat was turned on, Ben Hogan's paralysis disappeared.

In the opening round he fired a two-under-par 70 ("I was more pleased with how I played than how I scored"), followed with a 72 on the next 18. When it came to the payoff final round, Hogan was one stroke off the pace set by Sam Snead, 1949 winner, and Skee Reigel, 1947 Amateur champion. The pressure was too much for Snead. He blew to a sky-high 80 (taking an eight on the par-four eleventh hole).

Reigel finished with a challenging 71, then sat back to see if Ben could meet it. Knowing just what he had to do (Reigel finished two hours ahead of Hogan), Ben cracked out two birdies on the first three holes, got four altogether, and never went over par. His closing 68 matched the best round that anyone shot in the tournament and edged out Runner-up Reigel by two strokes, 280-282.

Grinning Bantam Ben had finally netted the last big one. Said he: "If I never win another one, I'll be satisfied."

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