Hogan's hold on Colonial will never fade

Ben Hogan is the first thing that comes to Oldgolfdawg's mind when Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is brought up in any context. The association between the two is inescapable. The tournament might be named the Crowne Plaza Invitational these days, but everyone knows it's still Hogan's tournament and his presence at "Hogan's Alley" will be felt in spirit by those competing and attending the event this weekend.

In the days when it was known simply as the Colonial, Hogan won it five times (1946, '47, '52, '53 and '59). Three of the victories came after his horrific auto accident in 1949, which might have robbed him of even more glory. We'll never really know about that in the same way we'll never really know how great Mickey Mantle would have been if he hadn't caught a cleat on a drainage cover in the outfield in his first World Series as a rookie while trying to avoid a collision with Joe DiMaggio. It's simply conjecture.

Hogan, considered perhaps the game's greatest pure ball-striker, himself said he never played as well after the accident than he did in 1948 and '49. Even so, he won six of his nine majors and 13 of his 54 PGA Tour wins after the accident, a true display of will power by someone stronger than 50 pounds of Texas onions.

Outside the clubhouse on the patio overlooking the 18th green at Colonial Country Club is a bigger-than-life bronze statue of Hogan at the top of his classic swing. One the main floor of the clubhouse is the Ben Hogan Trophy Room where all of the major accomplishments of the longtime Fort Worth resident and hero are on display. The Hawk's 54 PGA Tour victories, including nine majors, are duly noted in the exhibits. A photograph of his demolished car from the accident that threatened to end his career is also there, along with a movie poster from the film Follow the Sun that depicted his courageous recovery and comeback.

The Hawk, or "The Wee Ice Mon" as the Scots liked to refer to him after he won the British Open in 1953 at Carnoustie, was something special, and the need for corporate sponsorship money can't erase or overshadow what he has meant to his hometown or to golf as a whole. Bobby Jones has The Masters, Jack Nicklaus has The Memorial, Byron Nelson has his championship and Arnold Palmer has his invitational. But Hogan has a tournament, too, even if his name isn't prominently showcasing the event. Some things go without saying. This week's tournament at Colonial is one of them.

Information from PGATOUR.com contributed to his post.

For a detailed look at Hogan, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hogan