Miracle at Merion

Legendary sportswriter Red Smith characterized Ben Hogan’s comeback from a near-fatal automobile crash in February 1949 as “the most remarkable feat in the history of sports.” Now, more than sixty years later, that statement still rings true. The crowning moment of Hogan’s comeback was his astonishing victory in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia, where his battered legs could barely carry him on the 36-hole final day. Miracle at Merion—the recipient of the USGA’s 2010 Herbert Warren Wind Award for the best golf book of the year—tells the stirring story of Hogan’s valiant triumph over adversity.

David Barrett has been a professional golf writer for more than three decades. For eighteen years, Barrett served as an editor at Golf magazine, where he coordinated the magazine's major championship coverage. He presently contributes to GolfObserver.com and has his own web site, davidhbarrett.com, that is part of TheAPosition.com. He graduated from Haverford College, just across the road from Merion Golf Club, and has covered twenty-six U.S. Opens. The author of four previous books on golf, he lives in White Plains, NY.