The Miracle at Merion

With 15,000 fans swarming across the Pennsylvanian course, American star George Fazio was the first to post the clubhouse lead with a seven-over par total after a 70. Mangrum, the former war hero, struggled home in 76 to match him but neither man considered that enough to shut out the prowling Hogan.

But "Bantam Ben" had his own problems. Coming off the 11th green he led by three strokes with just seven holes to play. The tournament was his for the taking but struggling badly, the Texan star fell forward after his tee shot at the 12th. Gesturing to his friend Harry Radix to join him, he clung to his shoulders like a drunk around a lamppost saying: "My God, I don't think I can finish."

Later describing how his "legs had turned to stone" Hogan only needed to play the final four holes in one-over par to win. Suffering from poor circulation since his accident, the limp which was barely visible at the start of the week now became pronounced. Exhausted by having to play 36-holes in one day in what was only his seventh tournament in nearly a year and a half, he bogeyed 15 and 17 in quick succession.

Encouraged to "buck up" his ideas by the caddie appointed to him for the week, Hogan arrived at the 448-yard 18th hole needing a par to match Fazio and Mangrum in the clubhouse. Finding the centre of the fairway with his drive, he summoned all his skill and experience to strike a perfect 1-iron approach over a grassed-over quarry into the heart of the raised green. "It was," said 1949 US Open winner Cary Middlecoff, "the purest stroke I've ever seen."

Two putts from 40 feet gave him a 74 as excited fans ran onto the green in an effort to grab his golf ball as a souvenir. Matching the 287 total of Mangrum and Fazio, an 18-hole play-off was scheduled for the following day. As for Snead, he finished the week seven strokes back and was back in Virginia giving lessons by the time they teed off.

After such drama, nobody expected – or indeed wanted – Hogan to fail. Fairytales simply do not have rotten endings, and why should this be different? But the signs were not good. The first problem facing Hogan was that someone had stolen his trusty 1-iron (or 2-iron if you believe some accounts) from the Merion locker room over night. The golf shoes he had worn all week had also gone missing and, despite an investigation by the caddie master, neither could be located.

Stolen equipment aside, the biggest problem that concerned Hogan were his legs. Swollen and aching, he spent most of the previous evening soaking them in warm salt water to ease the pain. (Hogan later admitted the most tiring part of the entire week was getting over and under the gallery ropes).