In Fort Worth, Texas, young Ben Hogan (Harold Blake) works as a golf caddy to help support his family and dreams of becoming a professional golfer.

At his first professional tournament, in Niagara Falls, Chuck Williams (Dennis O'Keefe), a popular fellow pro, takes Hogan under his wing and they become best friends.

He is still unable to talk to fans or clown around, and has acquired an image in the media of a robotic, cold competitor with the nickname "The Texas Iceberg".

Meanwhile Williams has developed a drinking problem that is interfering with his golf and breaking up his marriage to Norma (June Havoc).

In 1949, on their way back to Fort Worth, Texas, to move into a home Valerie has bought for them, a bus drives head-on into their car on a fog-bound road.

The film re-creates Hogan throwing himself in front of his wife to protect her, an act of selflessness that also saved him: The steering wheel impaled the driver's seat.

Hogan is amazed by the outpouring of regard from his fans; his hospital room is flooded with flowers, cards and letters.

Chuck and Norma Williams, now happy together, come to the hospital room with golf legends Jimmy Demaret and Dr. Cary Middlecoff, who tell Hogan he is to be captain of the team when they go to England for the Ryder Cup, whether or not he can play.

(The fact that very little screen time is spent on his rehabilitation may intentionally reflect the amazing speed of Hogan's real-life recovery.)

Hogan loses to Snead in the playoff, but is applauded and honored at a tribute dinner from the "sportswriting fraternity" with Grantland Rice playing himself as toastmaster.

Henry Hathaway argued the film was hurt by its marketing campaign which downplayed the golf element and thus misled the audience.