Davis follows his pictorial history of Hogan (The Hogan Mystique) with this stunningly comprehensive, coffee-table book tribute to the legendary golfer who many consider the most misunderstood man in the sport. Hogan's dedication to personal privacy, his bluntness and obsession with creating the perfect swing were apparently more off-putting to the media than to his devoted fans and friends. In California in 1938, his second full year on the PGA tour, Hogan almost quit golf. He and his wife, Valerie, had just enough money left to get home to Fort Worth, Tex. Hogan promised Valerie he would sell their car and return home if he didn't win the Oakland Open. Luckily for fans everywhere, he won, but not before the tires of his car were stolen and he had to hitch a ride to the tournament with Byron Nelson. Golf aficionados will be engrossed in why Hogan didn't attempt to win the modern Grand Slam in 1953, his father's suicide when he was nine and his extreme neatness (which today might be viewed as compulsive). Essays by Hogan's widow, Valerie (with Dave Anderson), and friend Dan Jenkins; a detailed swing analysis by renowned instructor Jim McLean; riveting replays of important Hogan victories from 1940 through 1967; and spectacular photographs (many from Valerie Hogan's private collection and seen here for the first time) combine to make this a must-have for golf enthusiasts, students and, especially, historians of the game. (Oct.)
