(CNN) -- It was at San Francisco's Olympic Club that "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, world heavyweight champion and to many the man who took boxing from a brawl to an art, trained and coached. 

Twenty-two years after his death, the sports club hosted its first U.S. Open golf tournament in 1955. Ben Hogan lost in a playoff to an unknown golf pro from Iowa and the course was on its way to developing a reputation as the graveyard of champions. Now, after four U.S. Opens there, the first rule of Olympic Club favorites is ... there are no Olympic Club favorites. 

That's more true than ever this time around. It remains to be seen whether we're in the post-Tiger Woods era or just an interregnum in his reign, but what's certainly the case is that these days a large number of players turn up at major championships with a genuine belief and chance of winning. 

One simple fact supports them: the last 14 majors have been won by 14 different players. 

It was very different back at that first Olympic U.S. Open. Then, Ben Hogan was the man. Nine major championships under his belt and already the subject of a Hollywood movie, Hogan went to San Francisco in search of his fifth U.S. Open. 

He seemed to have won it too: the TV commentator congratulated him on his victory and the broadcast went off air proclaiming Hogan as U.S. Open champion. Rather inconveniently, Jack Fleck, a pro from a municipal course in Iowa, birdied 15 and 18, forced Hogan into a playoff and then -- in one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time -- beat the great man by three shots. 
When was the first US Open gold tournament held?
Who lost?
Who did he lose to?
Where was he from?
Does the course have a reputation?
Who is the club favorite?
Who was trained and coached at the club?
Did he golf?
Did he box?
How many championships had Hogan won at the time of the first Open?
Were producers interested in his story?
Has any one person won more than one major out of the last 14?
What does that support?
What was Hogan proclaimed as?
What championship was this at?
Was the proclamation true?
How much did he lose by?
Was it disappointing to fans?
Was it largest upsetting events in sports?
1955
the sports club hosted its first U.S. Open golf tournament in 1955
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan lost in a playoff 
an unknown golf pro
Ben Hogan lost in a playoff to an unknown golf pro from Iowa
Iowa
Ben Hogan lost in a playoff to an unknown golf pro from Iowa
the graveyard of champions
 the course was on its way to developing a reputation as the graveyard of champions
there are no Olympic Club favorites
the first rule of Olympic Club favorites is ... there are no Olympic Club favorites. 
"Gentleman Jim" Corbett
"Gentleman Jim" Corbett, world heavyweight champion and to many the man who took boxing from a brawl to an art, trained and coached. 
unknown
It was at San Francisco's Olympic Club that "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, world heavyweight champion and to many the man who took boxing from a brawl to an art, trained and coached. 
yes
"Gentleman Jim" Corbett, world heavyweight champion and to many the man who took boxing from a brawl to an art
Nine
Nine major championships under his belt
yes
already the subject of a Hollywood movie
no
 the last 14 majors have been won by 14 different players.
many players think they can win
a large number of players turn up at major championships with a genuine belief and chance of winning. 
U.S. Open champion
 the broadcast went off air proclaiming Hogan as U.S. Open champion
first Olympic U.S. Open
at that first Olympic U.S. Open
no
Rather inconveniently, Jack Fleck, a pro from a municipal course in Iowa, birdied 15 and 18, forced Hogan into a playoff and then -- in one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time -- beat the great man by three shots.
three shots
forced Hogan into a playoff and then -- in one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time -- beat the great man by three shots.
unknown
unknown
yes
 in one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time -- beat the great man by three shots.