cover image The Longest Shot: 
Jack Fleck, Ben Hogan, and 
Pro Golf’s Greatest Upset 
at the 1955 U.S. Open

The Longest Shot: Jack Fleck, Ben Hogan, and Pro Golf’s Greatest Upset at the 1955 U.S. Open

Neil Sagebiel. St. Martin’s/ Dunne, $25.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-312-66184-7

After suffering a “near fatal automobile accident” in 1949, Ben Hogan completed what “some considered to be the greatest comeback in the history of sports” and entered the 1955 U.S. Open as the favorite to win a record-setting fifth title. Jack Fleck’s goal was simply to “make it as a full-time player on the PGA tour.” Golf blogger Sagebiel resurrects the suspenseful final round of the 1955 U.S. Open, and the playoff between the golfing great and the unknown journeyman who defeated his idol. Sagebiel sets the stage with the life stories of both of the former caddies who played when “grass-challenged courses and Spartan facilities were the norm for tour golf” and winnings sometimes were not enough to cover caddie fees. The combination of a taut narrative and Sagebiel’s golf knowledge make the story accessible to general readers. Photos. Agent: Rick Broadhead. (June)