Golf has always had its unwritten rules, and few moments capture that better than a story Gary Player once shared about Ben Hogan at the Masters.

Player recalled the incident unfolding in the Masters Club, when the first tournament winner Horton Smith came to Hogan with a book. Player, the reigning champion, watched the scene closely

“I put the book in front of him,” Player said. Hogan sat silently, staring at the book with what Player described as a “mean look.” The room was completely still. Then Hogan lowered his head, lifted it again, and finally slammed the book on the table.

“KOW!” Player recalled in an interview with Golf.com, “Everybody jumped out of their skin.” Hogan did not mince words. “Who passed this g*** book up here?” he demanded.

Smith calmly replied, “Ben, I did. I’ve got a junior at my club, a wonderful young boy. We want to encourage him to play golf, and I just thought it would be a marvellous present.”

Hogan’s response was immediate and fierce. "Horton, this is the Masters Club, not a g*** autograph session club. Don’t you ever do that again," Player recalled.

The message was clear: Hogan's reaction was born from a deep respect for the club, the tournament, and everything Augusta National represented.

From Player Authority to Clear Rules at Augusta

The moment Gary Player described involving Ben Hogan belongs to a different Masters' era. It is not because Augusta has relaxed its standards, but because those standards are now clearly written and strictly enforced.

For instance, the golf course is strictly off-limits during the Masters for autographing nowadays.

Fans looking for autographs from their favorite golfers are only allowed to do so in the Tournament Practice Area, the Par 3 course during the Par 3 Contest, and the parking lot side of the Clubhouse.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi