Golfing legend Ben Hogan went to his grave believing he had won a record five US Open titles. The USGA says otherwise, and the controversy has endured for over 75 years. In 1942, the United States Golf Association (USGA) cancelled its four golf tournaments for the duration of World War II. But then it did something different in only that year-it sponsored the Hale-America National Open on the same weekend as the cancelled US Open. The great Ben Hogan won that tournament and went to his grave believing he had therefore won a record five US Open titles. In The Open Question, Peter May turns his attention to this controversial, colorful Hale-America National Open of 1942. While providing an in-depth look at the tournament itself, May champions Hogans claim to five US Open titles and debunks some questionable assertions that the tournament was not worthy of a US Open. Set against the backdrop of World War II, May also tells the stories of other professional golfers in the tournament and the impact of the war on all their lives. The USGA has never recognized the Hale-America Tournament as an official US Open and remains firm in its stance. It was a decision that bothered Ben Hogan for the rest of his life. The Open Question shows how dominant Ben Hogan was against some of the biggest names in golf, and reveals why he deserves to be recognized as a five-time US Open winner.

Peter May has been covering and writing about sports for more than three decades, for the last several years as a Boston-based correspondent for The New York Times. At the Boston Globe, he specialized in covering the Boston Celtics and the NBA, earning numerous writing awards. He also covered three Super Bowls, two World Series, the 2004 Olympics, and a number of international basketball tournaments. He is a senior lecturer in journalism at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. May is the author of four books: The Big Three: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish: The Best Frontcourt in the History of Basketball ; The Last Banner: The Story of the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, the NBAs Greatest Team of All-Time; Wont Back Down: Teams, Dreams and Family with Kim Mulkey , and Top of The World: The Inside Story of the Boston Celtics 2007-08 Championship Season.

Prologue Preface Part One - Eleven Months Chapter 1: May 1941-January 1942: The USGA Giveth and the USGA Taketh Away Chapter 2: April-June 1942: Augusta, Seaview and East Lake Part Two - Four Days Chapter 3: The Hale-America Round One, June 18: Ridgemoor and Mr. Icicle Chapter 4: The Hale-America Round Two, June 19: Mr. 62 Chapter 5: The Hale-America Round Three, June 20: Good Times Jimmy Chapter 6: The Hale-America Round Four, June 21: Ben and Bobby One Last Time Part Three - Controversy and Aftermath Chapter 7: Controversy: When Is a US Open Not a US Open? Chapter 8: October 1945 to August 1946: The End of Hostilities and the Return of the US Open Chapter 9: The Back Nine: The Foursome on the Back Nine of Life Epilogue: Preserving the Legacy: The Hoganistas

Peter May offers an in-depth look at the 1942 Hale-America National Open while also presenting a compelling case to correct one of the games great wrongs by awarding Hogan a fifth US Open championship, giving him his rightful title as the greatest U.S. Open winner of all time. — Ron Sirak, Longtime Golf Digest writer, Golf Channel contributor and recipient of the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism

Peter Mays very thorough research is just what was needed to shed light on one of golfs historical controversies, while compellingly telling the stories of players whose lives and careers were affected by the onset of World War II. — David Barrett, author of Miracle at Merion: The Inspiring Story of Ben Hogans Amazing Comeback and Victory in the 1950 US Open

When is a US Open not a US Open? When the USGA says its not, even though it sure quacked like a golfing duck. Peter May takes us through the fascinating saga of Ben Hogan and the 1942 Hale-America National Open, which Hogan won and which had every trapping of a US Open, including a medal that looked suspiciously like the ones given to all US Open winners. Along the way, youll meet all the key golfers of that era, including an un-retired Bobby Jones. There is plenty here for any golf fan, or sports fan, for that matter. — Bob Ryan, former award-winning Boston Globe columnist and ESPN commentator

If you ever wanted to get the scoop on the true story of Ben Hogans fifth US Open, or Bobby Jones service in World War II, you would do well to have Peter May conduct the investigation. His efforts are thorough and exhaustive as he turns over every stone and his skill at communicating with the well-crafted phrase is both entertaining and illuminating. — Sidney L. Matthew, author of Bobby: The Life and Times of Bobby Jones