Why was Ben Hogan's return to golf after his 1949 car accident remarkable?

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Tiger Woods follows through on his golf swing after teeing off, standing in tall grass with spectators watching in the background at St Andrews Golf Links. — golf American golfer Tiger Woods competing at the British Open (Open Championship) at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, 2005.

The return of Ben Hogan to professional golf following his 1949 automobile accident is considered one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history because of the severity of his injuries. Hogan was so critically wounded in the crash that medical professionals initially did not expect him to walk again.1

Despite these dire medical predictions, Hogan utilized his exceptional willpower and a rigorous practice routine to return to the sport at an elite level. His post-accident career was remarkably successful, including winning the U.S. Open three more times (1950, 1951, and 1953), the Masters Tournament twice (1951 and 1953), and the British Open in 1953. This period of dominance culminated in his achievement of the career "Grand Slam," cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greatest competitors.1