Ben Hogan
Original 1939 Ryder Cup U.S. Team Photo
(Cancelled Ryder Cup)
This is a rare original 8x10 wire photo of the 1939 American Ryder Cup team -
for a Ryder Cup that never happened.
Walter Hagen was chosen to lead the
U.S. squad as the non-playing Captain, and the team included Byron Nelson and
Horton Smith. Unfortunately, World War II broke out and the 1939 Ryder Cup was
canceled. That team still competed, however, as this photo demonstrates. The
1939 Ryder Cup Team played a series of Challenge Matches. This photo is from the
1940 Ryder Cup "Challenge Match" at Oakland Hills C.C. This "Challenge Match"
was the famous match against Gene Sarazen's Challengers. Sarazen, who was left
off the 1939 Ryder Cup Team, challenged Hagen and his team by assembling a squad
that included Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret and Craig Wood.