Ben Hogan's Secret: A Fictionalized Biography

by Bob Thomas

Ben Hogan had a secret. Or so it is said. Because of Hogan's unparalleled mastery of the game, many have speculated that he had discovered some special technique, some change in swing or grip that made fellow tour members feel he was nearly unbeatable: A four-time PGA player of the year, five-time Vardon Trophy winner, and one of only four golfers to win all of the Grand Slam titles. Despite a near-fatal accident at the peak of his career, which left doctors wondering whether he would even walk again, Hogan not only returned to golf but picked up a U.S. Open title in his first season back. A few years later he went on to win three major tournaments in the same season - a feat no other professional has done before or since.
Now Bob Thomas offers fans an illuminating view of this indisputable master. By interweaving historical facts with fictional techniques, Thomas offers a compelling depiction of the whole man, the technical perfectionist as well as the pure lover of the game. He shows us what Hogan found in golf, and ultimately what golf found in Hogan.

Genres: Sports

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Robert Joseph "Bob" Thomas was an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who worked for the Associated Press from 1944.

Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.

Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.

During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting account of Hogan. Thomas freely admits that the "conversations" with Hogan are made up, which surely adds doubt to supposed talks between Hogan and Bobby Jones, or Hogan and his wife. At times it seemed like the narration was taken right from the movie "Follow the Sun", which told the Ben Hogan story and starred Glenn Ford. The book is far too gung ho and paints too positive of a picture of Hogan.

[Charles M.]

Fictionalized account of this great golfer's career, from early frustration and obscurity to that of one of the all time greats.

[Tom Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fictionalized Biography = made up stories not written very well.

[Nathanael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Dad's inscription: guaranteed to really wreck your game.

I'll say. Apparently all that lies between me and championship golf is between my ears. Yikes.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't really show any "secrets", other than hard work pays off. Fairly entertaining story about Ben's life.

[R. Allain · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a November 2020 interview in "The New York Post," golfing luminary Sergio Garcia was asked if he could plumb one golfer about his swing, who would he pick? His reply: Ben Hogan. And "Hawk" Hogan, called for his beedy, piercing glance (and perhaps because he, too, would devote hours fixed in a single place - for him, a secluded practice area), has long been a legend in the game. And author Bob Thomas, a faithful Hogan devotee, does a serviceable job exploring the "Wee Ice Man," his Scottish moniker. Thomas' hurdle was constructing a realistic tapestry of the man's life - but based on what the author assumed his actual words were (largely with his closest friend and adviser, his wife Valerie). No easy task. Thomas does better in conveying key themes in Hogan's golfing career - his relentless drive, his perfectionism, his struggles with the press, a pivotal relationship with Bobby Jones and, of course, recovering from a serious car accident. A good off-season read.