Who's who: Walter Hagen

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Walter Hagen

  • Name:

    Walter Charles Hagen
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1892-1969]. Born on Dec 21, 1892 in Rochester, New York. Died on Oct 6, 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan (aged 76).
  • Original/Home Club:

    CC of Rochester (initially as a caddie).
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1912 (aged 19)

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (11): The Open (1922, '24, '28, '29); US Open (1914, '19); US PGA (1921, '24, '25, '26, '27). Total professional wins (75), including PGA Tour (45). International wins included four Open Championships, the 1920 French and 1924 Belgian Open. Ryder Cup playing captain (1927, '29, '31, '33, '35); Ryder Cup non-playing captain (1937). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1974).

Golf course design

Walter Hagen is not renowned as a course designer, but he did lay out Koganei CC near Tokyo in Japan in 1937.

Did you know?

Hagen was a towering figure in the game of golf before the Second World War. Known as "The Haig" or sometimes "Sir Walter", he accumulated 45 wins on the PGA Tour, and captained the USA Ryder Cup team in the first six Ryder Cups to be played (1927-37). Among many outstanding accomplishments, he won 22 consecutive matches in the PGA Championship.

During his lifetime the flambouyant and increasingly wealthy Hagen was a key figure in the development of professional golf, and played a key role in improving the status of professional golfers. He helped change practices that denied professionals the same privileges as enjoyed by amateur golfers; admittance to some clubhouses was a particualr bone of contention. Hagen may well have been the first sports "superstar" to reach a million dollars in career earnings.

Top tournaments won by Walter Hagen

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Inverness Four-Ball.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Gasparilla Open - Tampa.

1933
America
Charleston, CC of
282 (-2)
$700
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Charleston, CC of

Score

282 (-2)

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Charleston Open (March 23-25). Resident professional and second-placed Henry Picard (USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA). [CC of Charleston, Charleston, SC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

287 (-1)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (June 30-July 2). Second-placed Olin Dutra (USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded the last of his five wins in this event. [Canterbury GC, Beachwood, nr Cleveland, Ohio].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Louis Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

143 (+1)

Prize money

$350

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Coral Gables Open (March 14/15; 36-hole event). Third-placed Densmore "Denny" Shute (USA) finished 1 shot behind joint winners Walter Hagen (USA) and Henry Ciuci (USA), who tied on 143. [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL; at the time known as the Miami Biltmore CC].

1931
America
282 (-6)
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (July 9-11, 14). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Percy Alliss (Eng) by 1 shot in a 36-hole Tuesday playoff (Hagen 73, 68; Alliss 72, 70). [Mississaugua G&CC, Mississauga, Ont.].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Miami International Four-Ball.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Great Lakes Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Long Beach Open.

1929
Majors
292
£75
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

292

Prize money

£75

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (64th) (May 8-10). Second-placed Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 6 shots behind defending champion Hagen (USA). This was the last of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, East Lothian].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

292

Prize money

£75

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (63rd) (May 9-11). Second-placed Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 2 shots behind Hagen (USA). This was the third of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

281 (-1)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Sept 8-10). Second-placed Al Espinosa (USA) and Bill Mehlhorn (USA) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded his fourth win in this event. [No.4 (North) course (par-70), Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL. One of the first two rounds for each player on the par-72 No.1 (South) course].

1927
Majors
Cedar Crest
1 hole
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Cedar Crest

Score

1 hole

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (10th) (Oct 31-Nov 5). Hagen (USA) beat Joe Turnesa (USA) 1-up in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's fourth straight US PGA Championship win, and the last of his five wins in this event. [Cedar Crest GC, Dallas, TX].

1926
America
Wolf Hollow CC
275 (-13)
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Wolf Hollow CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Eastern Open (July 18-20). Second-placed Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 9 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Wolf Hollow CC, Delaware Water Gap, PA; now known as Wolf Hollow at Water Gap CC].

1926
America
Highland G&CC
279 (-1)
$500
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Highland G&CC

Score

279 (-1)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Aug 26-28). Second-placed "Light Horse" Harry Cooper (USA) and Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 9 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA), who recorded his third win in this event. [Highland G&CC, Indianapolis, Indiana].

1926
Majors
Salisbury GC
5 & 3
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Salisbury GC

Score

5 & 3

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (9th) (Sept 20-25 ). Hagen (USA) beat Leo Diegel (USA) 5 and 3 in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's third straight and fourth overall US PGA Championship win. [Salisbury GC, Westbury, Long Island, NY. Although Salisbury GC no longer exists, its Championship course is today's Red course at Eisenhower Park GC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida West Coast Open.

1925
Majors
6 & 5
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

6 & 5

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (8th) (Sept 21-26). Defending champion Hagen (USA) beat Bill Mehlhorn (USA) 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final. This was Hagen's second straight and third overall US PGA Championship win. [Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

301

Prize money

£75

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (59th) (June 26-27). Second-placed Ernest Whitcombe (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). This was the second of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 30/31). Second-placed Cyril Walker (Eng/USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). Walker finished second to Hagen in this event a year earlier, also by the same margin of two shots. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Princess Ann Country Club Open.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

142

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Belgian Open. Aubrey Boomer (Eng) finished in second place behind Hagen (USA). [Zoute GC, Knokke-Heist, West Flanders, Belgium].

1924
Majors
2 holes
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

2 holes

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (7th) (Sept 15-20 ). Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) 2-up in the 36-hole final. This was the second of Hagen's five US PGA Championship wins. [Ross course (formerly Hill course), French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana].

1923
America
279 (-5)
$1,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

279 (-5)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Jan 26-28). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Bill Mehlhorn (USA) in an 18-hole Sunday playoff (Hagen 72, Mehlhorn 73). Mehlhorn's six at the 18th in the playoff handed the win to "The Haig". [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida West Coast Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Kansas Mid-Continent Pro Ch'ship.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Asheville Biltmore Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

289

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 29-31). Second-placed Cyril Walker (Eng/USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). Saturday's final 36-holes were washed out and played on Sunday. This was Hagen's third PGA Tour win in as many weeks. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina; opening 36-holes on No.3 Course].

1922
America
College Arms GC
291
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

College Arms GC

Score

291

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Deland Open. Second-placed Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 8 shots behind Hagen (USA). [College Arms GC, DeLand, FL; converted to real estate in 1955].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the White Sulphur Springs Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida West Coast Open.

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

300

Prize money

£75

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (57th) (June 22-23). Second-placed Jim Barnes (USA) and George Duncan (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). This was the first of Hagen's four Open Championship wins. [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].

1921
America
Oakwood Club, OH
287 (+3)
$350
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Oakwood Club, OH

Score

287 (+3)

Prize money

$350

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Aug 24-26). Second-placed Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 5 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA), who won this event for the second time. [Oakwood Club, Cleveland Heights, nr Cleveland, Ohio].

1921
Majors
Inwood CC
3 & 2
$500
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Inwood CC

Score

3 & 2

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (4th) (Sept 26-Oct 1). Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final, to claim the first of his five US PGA Championship wins. [Inwood CC, Inwood, Long Island, NY].

1920
America
Greenwich CC, CT
292
$250
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Greenwich CC, CT

Score

292

Prize money

$250

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 28-31). Defending champion Walter Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Hagen 70, Barnes 74), to record his third straight win in this event. [Greenwich CC, Greenwich, Connecticut].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida West Coast Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bellevue Country Club Open.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

298

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Open de France. Hagen (USA) beat Eugène Lafitte (Fra) in a 36-hole playoff (Hagen 149, Lafitte 154). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].

1919
Majors
Brae Burn CC, MA
301
$500
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Brae Burn CC, MA

Score

301

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (23rd) (June 9-12). Hagen (USA) beat Mike Brady (USA) in an 18-hole playoff (Hagen 77, Brady 78). [Main course, Brae Burn CC, West Newton, Mass.].

1919
America
North Shore CC, NY
294
$250
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

North Shore CC, NY

Score

294

Prize money

$250

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 10/11). Second-placed Emmet French (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Walter Hagen (USA). [North Shore CC, Glen Head, NY].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

293

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 29/30; first time as a 72-hole event). Second-placed Emmet French (USA) and Jim Barnes (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

1916
America
307
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

307

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 13-15; first year recognised as a PGA Tour event). Walter Hagen (USA) beat Jim Barnes (Eng) and Charlie Hoffner (USA) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Hagen 74, Barnes 75, Hoffner 77). [Garden City GC, Garden City, Long Island, NY].

1916
America
Blue Mound
286 (-2)
$300
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Blue Mound

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Aug 17/18). Second-placed George Sargent (Eng) and Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 1 shot behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Blue Mound G&CC, Wauwatosa, nr Milwaukee, WI].

1916
America
298
$250
PGA of America

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Score

298

Prize money

$250

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Played as the Shawnee Invitation tournament (Aug 8/9; first year recognised as a PGA Tour event). Second-placed Bob Macdonald (Scot/USA) finished 4 shots behind Walter Hagen (USA). [Shawnee CC & Inn, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania; at the time the Inn was known as the Buckwood Inn].

1914
Majors
Midlothian CC
290
$300
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Hagen, Walter

Venue

Midlothian CC

Score

290

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (20th) (Aug 20/21). Second-placed Chick Evans Jr (USA, amateur) finished 1 shot behind Hagen (USA). [Midlothian CC, Midlothian, nr Chicago, IL].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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