Evening star., 1933-10-17
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

NaASA1O, ONVooSA
I; Nominating the 10 leading
" players among the pro-
fessional golfers of the
United States for the tournament
season Of 1888 is a bit less diff
cult than usual.
The professionals, who ex-
pected to dominate the open
championships indefinitely. fol-
lowing the retirement Of Bob
Jones, met with severe repulse
in the United States open when
Johnny Goodman, the little
Omaha amateur, raced away with
the premier honors.
So once again the professionals are
obliged to share the spotlight with the
amateur brigade.
There is little question that the
record of H. Densmore Shute, the
slender professional Of the Llanerich
Club of Philadelphia, is entitled to the
title OF ranking player for the year.
Shute started his brilliant season in
Florida last Winter where he won one
of the richest prizes and finished well
up in other competitions. Then, after
q slump in the United States open. he
played keenly in the Ryder Cup
matches and climaxed his campaign
by winning the British Open after
tie with Craig Wood. A competent
shot maker with every club Shute has
developed into one of the games best
performers.
NNLY shade behind Shute is
Craig Wood, the blond star Of
Deal, N. j. Wood was the lead
ing winner in the 1928 Winter cir
cult, capturing the San Francisco match
play tournament and the Pasadena
and Los Angeles Opens in rapid sue
cession. In most Of the other Winter
events he usually won some share OF
the prizes. He finished third in the
United States Open at North Shore
after four very steady rounds and then
went on to tie Shute in the British
championship at st. Andrews. That
Shute defeated him handily IN the
Woods splendid game.
Gene Sarazen pulled himself into
third place after q disappointing Win
ter season and sad failure in the
United States Open. The little New
Yorker made a game bid that just fell
short of catching Shute and Wood in
the British Open and then came home
to win the P. G. A. championship.
hands down.
A heretofore little known player,
Willie Goggin Of San Francisco is
awarded fourth ranking. Goggin
marched to the finals of the P. G. A.
match and defeated some splendid play
ers before tackling SaraZen. Goggin
also tied for seventh place in the United
States Open and played well IN the
Western. So on his seasons record ne
must be admitted to the elect.
~ A.PH GULDAHL Is another young
K ster to come along during the last
Summer. The st. Louis player was
only one shot shy Of tieing Goodman
in the National Open and later finished
fifth in the Western and fourth in
the Canadian, Open.
Then comes Tommy Armour of Chi
cago. Armour finished third In the
United States Open, after getting away
to flying start, and came in second
in the Western. Armour corlpe.ed in
only two major championship during
the Summer but on each occasion
played some splendid golf.
Because of their victories in the
Western and Canadian Opens, Mac
Donald Smith and Joe Kirkwood are
ranked seventh and eighth. Smith
seldom has been better than in the
Western while Kirkwood gave bril-
liant display Of shot making in the
Dominion event.
Walter Hagen, who was fourth in the
United States Open and touched of
some brief but brilliant fireworks in the
British championship. is rated ninth.
If for no better reason than that he is
walter Hagen and still capable of win
ming from any man. After some con-
sideration. Olin Dutra is picked for
tenth position. Dutra won none Of the
big championships but he was fifth
in the United States Open. had
chance to win the British until the last
few holes and also played well in the
P. G. A. The season was disappointing
to the big Californian but he still rates
among the top notchers.
There were others who played ex-
ceptionally we'll but it is the writer's
opinion that the 10 selected here are
most entitled to any honor that may
20 with an unofficial ranking.