Walter Charles Hagen
Source: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Sports & Athletics • Historical Archive • 🇺🇸 United States • 6 views

Walter Charles Hagen 🇺🇸

Walter Charles Hagen (Known as "The Haig")
["golfer", "major champion", "pioneer"]
Born Dec 21, 1892 🇺🇸 Rochester, New York, United States
Passed Away Oct 06, 1969 Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Lifespan 76 years old
6 views
Notice / Correction
"You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way."

Archival Overview

American professional golfer who won 11 major championships, third all-time, celebrated for elevating professional golf into a respected and glamorous sport.

Biographical Record

Walter Charles Hagen (1892–1969), known as The Haig, was a flamboyant showman who transformed professional golf from a second-class trade into a glamorous worldwide spectacle. Hagen's 11 professional major championships (two US Opens, four Open Championships, five PGA Championships) rank third in history behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Renowned for arriving at tournaments in chauffeured limousines wearing silk shirts and tailored knickers, Hagen successfully demanded that professional golfers be admitted through the front doors of clubhouses, forever changing golf's social standing.

Key Life Milestones

June 23, 1922

First American-Born Open Championship Winner

Won the Open Championship at Royal St George's, becoming the first native-born American to lift the Claret Jug.

November 5, 1927

Fourth Consecutive PGA Championship

Defeated Joe Turnesa to win his fourth straight PGA Championship (match play), his fifth PGA title overall.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Southfield, Michigan, United States
GPS: 42.4706, -83.2506
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