Walter Hagen Memorabilia in the Brandenburg Museum

Photo located in the Brandenburg Museum at Cinnabar Hills
Walter Hagen

An assertive and dominant character, Walter Hagen continued to raise the status of professional golf. The earnings improved as well. Exhibition matches seemed to increase in popularity, not only in the U.S. but around the world, and Hagen quickly realized this seemed more lucrative than playing tournaments. Of his victory over Bobby Jones during the 72-hole-match named "The Match of The Century", Jones said: "When a man misses his drive, and then misses his second shot, and then wins the hole with a birdie, it gets my goat."

Endorsing golf equipment also made him significant money, and he was very influential in the designing of Wilson Sports golf clubs. Through his work with Wilson, some of the first matching sets of irons were produced. Hagen's improvement of golf equipment raised the standard of play and further expanded golf's appeal, without raising the price of golf clubs dramatically.

"I never wanted to be a millionaire. I just wanted to live like one."

Hagen might have been the first sportsman to earn a million dollars in his career. He wrote in his auto biography: "My game was my business and as a business it demanded constant playing in the championship bracket, for a current title was my selling commodity." He brought glamour and excitement to the game of golf, and fans started to love professional golf.

Counting the U.S. Amateur, since it used to be considered a major championship, Hagen won a total of 16 majors. He is only short of Jack Nicklaus' 20 and Tiger Woods' 17 majors (this is if you count Woods' three Amateur titles). The concept of the four modern majors wasn't in effect until Arnold Palmer's Masters and U.S. Open wins in 1960.



Hagen's 1927 Ryder Cup Captain's Jacket

The Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum

Cinnabar Hills Golf Club



In 1927, the Ryder Cup was introduced. Hagen participated in the first five cups and captained the first six. His 1927 captain's jacket is on display in the Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum. Hagen was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He was ranked as the seventh greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine, and as the eighth greatest player of all time by Sports Illustrated.