The prevalence of Hogan stories still amazes me, living in Texas. He remains a vital force, talked about and admired, if from a removed distance of time and genius. There is one story I'd heard, among many, told about the Ryder Cup over in Houston at The Champions (as those with reverence refer to it, like The National for Augusta National). It involves the whiff of a generational bristling between Ben Hogan, the captain that year and Arnold Palmer, the team's star. Early in the week of the matches, which, incidentally were sparsely attended, Arnold took Tony Jacklin up in his plane. The two buzzed by the golf course during the practice rounds. It's not a stretch to see that such fraternization might have annoyed Hogan. The yarn revolves around a conservation that allegedly took place in a team meeting. This was something I'd wanted to ask Arnold about for some time. I got the chance recently on a wet and nasty day when he came to town for a course opening.

The subject of the smaller British ball was said to have been raised in a team meeting. "But, Ben," Arnold is to have said,"I don't play the small ball." To which Hogan replies, "Who says you're playing."

Wow. Could it have happened? Maybe. As it turns out, no. "Hogan was tough but he wasn't that tough," Arnold said, shaking his head. Then with a tight smile, almost a grimace, he added, "Besides, he didn't know my name." Still a memory of that needle remains. Fella was all he got from Hogan, apparently. Hogan wouldn't call him or refer to him by name.

There's a great photo of Hogan and Palmer, posing on a Augusta National tee box, smoking. They're standing next to each other but far apart. Hogan and Palmer may never have had a meeting of the minds or even liked one another but I was pleased to find that a cross-generational kinship involving Palmer did in fact exist, one generation removed, with the great Walter Hagen. Now the Haig with Arnold offers more likely grounds for comparison. Both were from humble backgrounds, and although each had his own style, both was the swashbuckler of his generation. Both recognized their roles as entertainers, or at least beyond the strict confines of their discipline.

Palmer was a pallbearer at Hagen's funeral and I was pleased to have an opportunity, all too brief, to ask Arnold about their relationship. They got together when it was convenient, smoked, had a few drinks. Arnie mentioned that the first call of congratulations he got after winning the Open at Birkdale was from the Haig. "He took an interest in me from my early days on tour," he said. How nice.