The best golfer from every U.S. state

Texas: Ben Hogan

When Ben Hogan was 15 years old, he was caddying at a local country club and playing in their annual Christmas Tournament. He and another competitor were neck-and-neck throughout. On the final hole of the tournament, the other player put a 30-footer in the bottom of the cup to force another nine-hole playoff. In that playoff, the other competitor then hit another huge putt on the final hole to win it all. That wouldn’t be a good look for an all-time great like Hogan, but that other player happened to be one Byron Nelson.

Hogan had an interesting and tragic young life, his father committed suicide at a young age and he dropped out of high school during his senior year. However, the latter part was to pursue his dream of playing of professional golf when he was just 17 years old in 1930. He wasn’t an immediate success, however, as he didn’t actually notch his first win as a pro until March 1940. But once he broke through, boy did he ever not look back.

Not only was that win in 1940 his first, but it opened up three-straight wins for him in the state of North Carolina. And despite playing during World War II and almost dying in a car accident, Hogan would go on to win 64 times on the PGA Tour, which is the fourth most all time. What’s more, he completed the career grand slam and won nine majors, which is tied for the fourth most all time.

So though he may have lost to Nelson in the caddy tournament as a teenager, Hogan beats him out here.