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U.S. Open: 5 best moments in history

By Nathaniel Reeves

SAN DIEGO - JUNE 16: Tiger Woods (R), champion, and Rocco Mediate (L), runner up, share a moment on the 18th green during the trophy presentation after the playoff round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 16, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO - JUNE 16: Tiger Woods (R), champion, and Rocco Mediate (L), runner up, share a moment on the 18th green during the trophy presentation after the playoff round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 16, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Making one of the most spectacular comebacks in modern sports history, Ben Hogan is shown swinging his golf club during a three-way playoff, for the U.S. Open Golf Championship with Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. Mangrum went over the Merion Golf Course in 73 strokes, while Fazio made up the rear with a playoff round of 75. Mangrum sustained a two-stroke penalty on the 16th green when he picked up his ball to blow off a ladybug and kissed it.
Making one of the most spectacular comebacks in modern sports history, Ben Hogan is shown swinging his golf club during a three-way playoff, for the U.S. Open Golf Championship with Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. Mangrum went over the Merion Golf Course in 73 strokes, while Fazio made up the rear with a playoff round of 75. Mangrum sustained a two-stroke penalty on the 16th green when he picked up his ball to blow off a ladybug and kissed it. /

4. Ben Hogan wins after accident 

Forget playing in or winning a major golf tournament, Ben Hogan was lucky to be alive at the 1950 U.S. Open.

A horrific head-on collision with a bus in February of 1949 left Hogan with a broken collarbone, pelvis, ankle and rib, along with a blood clot he developed later on. Doctors were unsure if Hogan was going to be able to walk again, and continuing his legendary golf career seemed very unlikely.

However, Hogan managed a miraculous recovery, and was playing tournament golf again one year later. By June, Hogan was able to enter the 1950 U.S. Open, which was held at Merion.

Hogan whittled down Lloyd Mangrum’s two-stoke lead over the course of the final round to enter the 72nd hole in a three-way tie for first, along with George Fazio. Playing through a ton of pain, Hogan hit a 1-iron shot to within 40 feet of the pin (immortalized in Hy Peskin’s famous photograph), and two putted to force a playoff.

With the score close through 15 playoff holes, Mangrum picked up his ball to remove a bug that had landed on it and was assessed a two-stroke penalty. Hogan cruised to a four-stroke victory, as Fazio also fell out of contention.

The tournament became known as The Miracle at Merion and remains one of the most impressive feats of endurance and perseverance in golf history.

Next: 3. Arnold Palmer completes a huge comeback

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