Background
Walter Hagen was born on December 21, 1892 in Rochester, New York.
Walter Hagen was born on December 21, 1892 in Rochester, New York.
As a caddy at the Rochester Country Club, he taught himself to play golf.
As a caddy at the Rochester Country Club, Walter Hagen taught himself to play golf.
His competitive career began at Brookline in 1913, when he finished fourth in the American Open championship. The following year he won his first National Open title at Midlothian and in 1922 won the British Open at Sandwich, thus becoming the first American-born player to win the British Cup, the second oldest cup in the world of sports.
He also won a large number of lesser championships. He contemporary and great rival of Bobby Jones, he had one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of golf, for many years playing in spectacular exhibition matches, besides his championship games.
In 1927 he captained the American team that won the Ryder Cup in competition against the British at Worcester, Massachussets He retired from active competition in 1937.
He retired from active competition in 1937.