| 1950 U.S. Open | |
Sixteen months after an automobile accident that nearly killed him and left him with lifelong problems, Ben Hogan won in his return to the U.S. Open in what some call "the miracle at Merion."
In February of 1949, Hogan and his wife survived a head-on collision with a bus. Hogan had numerous broken bones and suffered blood clots and spent two months in the hospital. He was originally told by doctors he would never play golf again. He suffered circulatory problems and pain in his legs for the rest of his life, and those issues greatly curtailed his ability to play many tournaments.
In the playoff, Hogan shot 69 to Lloyd Mangrum's 73 and George Fazio's 75. Mangrum was the 1946 U.S. Open winner who went on to post 36 career wins and enter the World Golf Hall of Fame. Fazio had only two wins prior to this, and none after, but did finish in the Top 5 in the U.S. Open three of four years from 1950-53. Fazio went on to larger fame as a golf course designer, a career also chosen by several following family members (Tom Fazio is his nephew).
Mangrum had a 2-stroke lead over Hogan following the third round, and a 6-stroke margin over Fazio. But Fazio posted 287 with a final-round 70, while Mangrum struggled to a 76 to match Fazio. Hogan's 74 wasn't his best - he missed opportunities down the stretch, including missing a 2 1/2-foot putt on the 15th hole - but it was good enough to get into the playoff.
The playoff came down to Hogan and Mangrum - and a rules issue. Hogan led by one over Mangrum (with Fazio further back) through 15 holes. But as Mangrum prepared to putt, an insect landed on his ball. Mangrum marked, picked up the ball and blew the bug off. According to the USGA's history, that was "an act not permitted by the Rules of Golf until 1960." Mangrum incurred a 2-stroke penalty, and Hogan wound up winning the playoff by four.
The 1950 U.S. Open is also notable for the first round of 64 in tournament history. It was posted by Lee Mackey Jr. in the first round. Unfortunately for Mackey, he followed it with a second-round 81 and wound up finishing tied for 25th. Mackey's 64 wouldn't be bettered in this tournament (or any of the other majors) until Johnny Miller's closing 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open.
Tommy Armour played in his final U.S. Open - his final major - at this event, shooting 75-75 and missing the cut.
1950 U.S. Open Golf Tournament Scores
Results from the 1950 U.S. Open golf tournament played at the par-70 East Course of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. (x-won playoff; a-amateur):
| x-Ben Hogan | 72-69-72-74--287 | $4,000 |
| Lloyd Mangrum | 72-70-69-76--287 | $2,500 |
| George Fazio | 73-72-72-70--287 | $1,000 |
| Dutch Harrison | 72-67-73-76--288 | $800 |
| Jim Ferrier | 71-69-74-75--289 | $500 |
| Joe Kirkwood Jr. | 71-74-74-70--289 | $500 |
| Henry Ransom | 72-71-73-73--289 | $500 |
| Bill Nary | 73-70-74-73--290 | $350 |
| Julius Boros | 68-72-77-74--291 | $300 |
| Cary Middlecoff | 71-71-71-79--292 | $225 |
| Johnny Palmer | 73-70-70-79--292 | $225 |
| Al Besselink | 71-72-76-75--294 | $133 |
| Johnny Bulla | 74-66-78-76--294 | $133 |
| Dick Mayer | 73-76-73-72--294 | $133 |
| Henry Picard | 71-71-79-73--294 | $133 |
| Skee Riegel | 73-69-79-73--294 | $133 |
| Sam Snead | 73-75-72-74--294 | $133 |
| Skip Alexander | 68-74-77-76--295 | $100 |
| Fred Haas | 73-74-76-72--295 | $100 |
| Jimmy Demaret | 72-77-71-76--296 | $100 |
| Marty Furgol | 75-71-72-78--296 | $100 |
| Dick Metz | 76-71-71-78--296 | $100 |
| Bob Toski | 73-69-80-74--296 | $100 |
| Harold Williams | 69-75-75-77--296 | $100 |
| Bobby Cruickshank | 72-77-76-72--297 | $100 |
| Ted Kroll | 75-72-78-72--297 | $100 |
| Lee Mackey Jr. | 64-81-75-77--297 | $100 |
| Paul Runyan | 76-73-73-75--297 | $100 |
| Pete Cooper | 75-72-76-75--298 | $100 |
| Henry Williams Jr. | 69-76-76-77--298 | $100 |
| John Barnum | 71-75-78-75--299 | $100 |
| Denny Shute | 71-73-76-79--299 | $100 |
| Buck White | 77-71-77-74--299 | $100 |
| Terl Johnson | 72-77-74-77--300 | $100 |
| Herschel Spears | 75-72-75-78--300 | $100 |
| Walter Burkemo | 72-77-74-78--301 | $100 |
| Dave Douglas | 72-76-79-74--301 | $100 |
| Claude Harmon | 71-74-77-80--302 | $100 |
| a-James McHale Jr. | 75-73-80-74--302 | |
| Gene Sarazen | 72-72-82-76--302 | $100 |
| Jim Turnesa | 74-71-78-79--302 | $100 |
| Art Bell | 72-77-78-76--303 | $100 |
| Patrick Abbott | 71-77-76-80--304 | $100 |
| Joe Thacker | 75-69-83-77--304 | $100 |
| Johnny Morris | 74-74-80-77--305 | $100 |
| Loddie Kempa | 71-74-78-83--306 | $100 |
| a-Frank Stranahan | 79-70-79-78--306 | |
| Gene Webb | 75-74-82-75--306 | $100 |
| a-P.J. Boatwright | 75-74-79-79--307 | |
| George Bolesta | 77-72-84-78--311 | $100 |
| John O'Donnell | 76-72-83-85--316 | $100 |
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