Christmas Eve in 1951, Ben and Valerie Hogan were having dinner with Valerie’s parents. In 1951, Ben Hogan had a great golfing season. He won the Masters and the US Open, and he announced to the golfing world he had a secret. Not only did he have a secret, but he told everybody he had a secret and he also told them that the hand was quicker than the eye and they would never find it.
Ben Hogan’s secret started in 1946, when he won his first major. The lore of the secret got stronger and stronger as he continued to mount his assault on the PGA tour majors. Everyone believed Hogan had a secret, but no one could figure it out. There were articles written and the great teachers of that era all asked the question, “what does Hogan do that we don’t?”
In 1951, it had hit new heights and everyone was talking about the secret. As Ben walked into the Fox’s home, Mrs. Fox, Valerie’s mother, got in Ben’s face. “We want to know the secret! Come on, Ben, tell us what the secret is. We are family!”
Ben looked at his mother-in-law with his cold, stone grey eyes and said to her, “No. Valerie doesn’t even know my secret and you think I’m going to tell you?”
Mrs. Fox was startled. “Why wouldn’t you tell your wife what your secret is?”
Hogan retorts, “Because too many people know the combination to her vault and my secret will be spread all over the PGA Tour and instead one one Hogan, there are going to be twenty! I will become a mediocre player.”
Mrs. Fox snapped back, “Well that’s not good enough, Mr. Hogan. We want to know what the secret is.”
“Okay Mrs. Fox, I’ll make you a deal. I’ve had your fried chicken, and it is the best I’ve had in my entire life. I traveled all over the country and ordered fried chicken from every place. No one could compare to your fried chicken. It’s the best in the country. How about you give me that recipe and I’ll give you my secret?”
“No way Ben! You’re not getting my chicken recipe. Valerie doesn’t even have my chicken recipe.”
Ben replies, “Why doesn’t Valerie have the recipe?”
Mrs. Fox never asked for Ben’s secret again.
The Blue Whale Exercise Program 