A picture is worth a thousand words, according to philosophers, songwriters, and ad agencies. It might require a simple four words here, to dispute the decades-old trumpet song of glory of Ben Hogan at Carnoustie in 1953.

I’m looking, as are you, at this overhead shot of the 6th at Carnoustie and wondering if you see what I see. See the bunkers in the middle? See the land to the left, between the sand and the road? See the land to the right, between the sand and the rough? Which looks narrower?

Unless the road was moved during construction season, I think so, too: lots more land to the left. With Hogan’s fade, playing it off the road, toward the bunkers, was incredibly logical. A strategic play, no doubt, but not nearly the hero-making moment the press implies.

Twixt you and I, I’d love to know his strategy for 18, a hole of much greater difficulty for the wee ice mon.

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