Ben Hogan

3 5.4

An American golfer known for winning many major tournaments and teaching the golf swing

proper noun
/bɛn ˈhoʊɡən/

: Ben Hogan

After studying Ben Hogan's swing, many golfers have improved their own techniques.

Examples

Ben Hogan is often cited as one of the most influential figures in the history of golf.
The legacy of Ben Hogan lives on through numerous instructional books and tournaments named after him.
Ben Hogan was a legend.
Did you know Ben Hogan won the Masters four times?
Many golfers consider Ben Hogan to be an icon of the sport due to his remarkable achievements.
In golf history, Ben Hogan is celebrated for his incredible dedication to improving swing techniques.
Numerous aspiring golfers study the techniques of Ben Hogan to enhance their performance on the course.

Surface Forms

Ben Hogan main

Morphology

Ben + Hogan

This is a personal name (proper noun) whose meaning is referential/arbitrary; knowing the parts 'Ben' and 'Hogan' does not let a B1 learner infer that this refers to a famous American professional golfer. Proper names do not compose semantically in the way common noun or verb phrases do and require prior exposure or encyclopedic knowledge, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Ben Hogan is the name of an American golfer famous for a very precise 'swing' and for winning many big tournaments. Because he also wrote popular books to teach golf, his name is used today when people talk about perfect technique or great skill in the game.