Walter Hagen's

Western Open Gold Medal Trophy

        There is much debate among golf historians about Walter Hagen's exact place in history - at least as it relates to the public's obsession over Major Championship victories. Many are constantly irritated at the frequent reference to Walter Hagen's "11" Major Championship victories. Hagen indeed won 11 Majors if you only count 3 tournaments towards the tally (Open Championship, U.S. Open and PGA Championship), despite the fact that every golfer he is measured against (Bobby Jones before him, and Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods since) counts 4 different Major Championships towards his own tally. The most common counter-argument is that Walter Hagen and the professionals of his day should count the Western Open as Major Championship, as it was widely considered one of the foremost tournaments in the entire world at the time. In fact, even after the Masters Tournament was formed in 1934, it took many years for it to supplant the Western Open in terms of prestige.

         Walter Hagen, of course, won the Western Open an unprecedented 5 times and personally considered it the finest golf tournament in the world after the PGA Championship.

         Presented here is Walter Hagen's personal "Champion's Trophy". This trophy was presented to Walter Hagen in the 1960's to commemorate his 5 Western Open victories and mirrors the Champion's Trophy that was given out to Western Open Champs in the 1960's and 70's. The front of this impressive trophy is engraved "WALTER HAGEN   FIVE-TIME WESTERN OPEN CHAMPION", and the reverse: "WINNER IN 1916-21-26-27-32".

        Walter Hagen kept this 4" x 4" x 1 1/2" trophy as a cherished part of his personal collection until his death in 1969. It was then owned by the executor of his estate, Ken Janke.