The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-08
.LUCKIEST GUY TO
TAKE BRITISH OPEN
SAYS THE HAIG'
BY WALTER HAGEN
Written Exclusively for the
United Press

Copyright 1888. by United Prcss)
st Andrews, Scotland. July s.
(UP)-With my hopes for fifth
British open title blasted by st An
drew's appropriately named "hell
bunker" I'm a member Of the gal.
lery today enjoying the unusual
spectacle Of two Americans, blond
Craig Wood Of New Jersey and
dark Densmore Shute Of Philadel-
phia, battling 1t out In the 3e-hole
play-off for the crown.
It's not unusual for an American
to win this British title; In fact,
this will be the 10th straight year
we've taken the crown, but It's
mighty unusual for two Americans
to tie for the lead. I was not sur.
prised at the tie. II you Will re-
call, I predicted yesterday that 1t
might end in q deadlock because
the field was so closely punched
at the end Of the first 36 holes.
Lady Luck Needed
As Craig and Denny start Of to-
day, I am asked by many, "Who
this: II the winds howl over the
course and the bunkers yawn like
they did yesterday, the luckiest
Buy WAAA oaSSSSA 1880
British open champion.
Was that q course to play yes
terday? Those fairways and
greens, hard.baked as they are by
the sun, were calm and peaceful
early in the week. but yesterday 1t
seemed that all the winds Of the
North Sea got together and bore
down on the tourney. And the
stronger the winds blew, the
tougher the course became. The
bunkers suddenly began grabbing
shots and taking heavy toll. Hell
bunker on the 14th not only fin
ished me, but It opened Its jaws
and literally swallowed Gone Sar-
azen alive. Gone took eight on
this hole In the Anal round and
saw his title fly away on the wind.
Gene finished with o 293, one
stroke behind Wood and Shute,
and tied for second place with
Loo Diegel and the Englishman,
sgd Easterbrook.
This same bunker caught my
ball in the morning round. and ]
took q seven, q fatal blow. 1t
also caught Leo Diegel on the last
In spite of the strong British
drive to regain the title. America
turned In another mighty per.
Torrance this year. and should
continue to do 50 as long as cities
In all sections Of the United States
continue to sponsor open Journeys
during the year. These Journeys
serve as real training grounds for
later major championships at
homo and abroad.
Good Men
Both Wood and Shute are con-
sistent tournament players, ana
yesterday their tourney experience
proved invaluable under hot COM
petition and unfavorable playing
conditions. Wood beat his way
through the wind In two rounds Of
IS and rs, whilo Shute had two
73's. This was mighty fine golf.
considering what the wind and
bunkers did to some top-notch
playing regulations.
I experienced my worst day IN
an important championship, tax
Ing 70 In the morning and 81 IN
the afternoon. was still In the
running until took that seven on
the 14th In the morning. tired
as the day wore on and never MAD
q putting touch after the first nine.
During the incoming nine. I was
actually leaning against the ter
rife wind, and had four skies.
Sarazen made o game stand IN
defense Of his title and did well to
finish 80 close to the top. He was
two under fours coming to the
l4th and then got into Hell bunk
en-" II was q sad sight to see the
champion caught fast IN 81 An
drews' most deadly bunker, trying
to get out, and taking an eight for
the hole. But that's golf.