Follow the Sun

Young Ben Hogan works as a golf caddy to support his family and dream of turning pro. These early years in Fort Worth shape his discipline and obsession with perfecting his swing as he eyes the tour.

Grown up, he quits his job in a garage, buys a used car, and sets out on the tour. He marries his childhood sweetheart Valerie Fox, who travels with him and helps him cope with the challenges of tour life.

At his first pro tournament in Niagara Falls, fellow pro Chuck Williams mentors him and they become close friends. Hogan offends respected sportswriter Jay Dexter, whose misreading of his reticence as arrogance unsettles him until Valerie talks him through it.

The Hogans struggle financially, but Hogan ties for 6th at the Oakland Open, winning $285. Valerie notes that the gallery no longer scares him, even as his aloof public image grows.

World War II interrupts Hogan's golfing career and he serves in the U.S. Air Force. After the war, he returns to competition as a formidable champion, but still struggles to connect with fans and is nicknamed the Texas Iceberg.

At the Bing Crosby Tournament in Pebble Beach, Hogan wins, beating Chuck Williams. A former commanding officer visits, and Hogan remains singularly focused on the game, only realizing the visit afterward; he chastises himself for not playing to the gallery as well as the course demands.

Hogan rises to the top of the money list and enters a fictional showdown called The Big One in Los Angeles, where he faces Chuck Williams. Hogan wins the event, and Williams and his wife quietly move on, without explanation.

On a foggy road back to Fort Worth, a bus crashes into Hogan and Valerie's car as Hogan throws himself in front of his wife to shield her. He survives with crushed pelvis, legs, and shoulder, while the doctors worry about clotting and arrange specialized care.

Hogan recovers in the hospital, overwhelmed by the outpouring of fan support and flowers. He dreams of playing for the gallery again and is named captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team for the England trip, even if he cannot play.

Valerie returns to find Hogan has secretly gone to a driving range to train. A ballboy explains the pivot and weight shift, and Hogan's doctors warned him not to play due to clots, but he persists. Valerie's fear shifts to cautious support as she sees his determination.

New headlines call Hogan Iron Man as he returns to competition in the 1950 Los Angeles Open. He battles rain and fatigue, shooting a 69 on the final round to lead the field. Sam Snead matches his score in a playoff, forcing a dramatic finish.

Although he loses the playoff to Snead, Hogan is celebrated with a tribute dinner and a toast from Grantland Rice. The film ends with a recreated Time magazine cover honoring Hogan's 1950 U.S. Open victory, signaling the beginning of his acclaimed era.