Ben Hogan won his first individual professional event at Pinehurst with a victory in the 1940 North and South Open. Hogan beat Sam Snead by three strokes. Of all the history at Pinehurst, the area has never held a U.S. Open. In its first 102 years, the event was played in the south only three times.
New grasses can handle the heat better.
The Open was held near a major city until 1972. Pinehurst didn't have grass on all its greens until the mid-1930s. From the 1930s-60s, Pinehurst was managed by Richard S. Tufts, a veteran USGA man. He kept Pinehurst out of the running for fear of the appearance of impropriety. All rights reserved.