The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-03
SARAzEN AMONG FIVE FAVOR|TES
 AT BALTUSROL
Defending Champion, Sam Parks Given No Chance
 of Repeating
By GEORGE KHRKsEY Limited Rreas Stan COrregpOndent

Springfield, N. J., June 3.-(UP)- dolfdorl's greatest shot makers took their final practice swings today for the 40th national open champion ship, commencing tomorrow over the wooded hillsides of the Baltusrol Golf club.
 Around the old English club house, on the hilly fairways lined with tall spruce and fir trees, and in lounges and locker room, all the talk was about who will succeed Sam Parks, Jr., of Pittsburg as champion in the greulling 3-day, 72-hole test. Every one has conceded that Parks will be dethroned before the first shot is fired, but that seems to be the only certain thing about this tournament.
 There is much disagreement among the players, critics and just plain golf enthusiasts as to the wins ner, and the winning score. A con- sensus of Q group composed of three prominent professionals, three news papermen, and three home club members, forecast that the specih- cations of the new champion will come close to the following:
 He'll be 6 comparatively long hit- ter of the tee.
 Hell have to be accurate with his first two shots.
 He won't be c leader at the end of the first or second round, but he'll be within striking distance when the last two rounds of 36 holes start Saturday.
 He most likely won't be one of the betting favoriteS or one of the recent tournament winners.
 He'll finish with 6 rush, playing his best golf on the final day.
 Above all he'll have to be calm and cool under fire.
 As for the winning score, the con- servative minds believe 200 will win. Others think that will depend large- ly on the weather conditions and where the .. g. c. A. oftlcials place the cup on the greens. If the weather is favorable, and the offl- cials do not place the holes in tough spots, Q score of 2Ss, par for four rounds, or under, may be neces- sary to win.
 Out of the field of 170 players 134 professionals and 36 amateurs five of the outstanding favorites are Henry Picard, Hershey, Pa., Johnny Revolta, Evanston, H., Paul Rum van, White Plains, N. J., Gene Sarazen, Brookfleld Center, Conn, and Harry Cooper, Chicago.
 Five recent champions who must be given consideration are Olin Dutra, 1883 open champion and win. ner of the True Temper ournament at Birmingham, Mich., last week: Byron Nelson, former Texan, winner of the Metropolitan open; Horton Smith, Chicago, winner of the Mas. ters' tournament at Augusta, Ga.: Harold (Jug) McSpaden, Winches- ter, Mass, winner of the Massachu- sets open; and Jimmy Thomson, Shawnee Delaware, Pa., winner of the Richmond open.
 Then there's the "old guard" to figure. Among the leaders of the veteran brigade are Walter Hagen, champion in 1oi4-l9; Mcdonald Smith, who will play with steel. shafted clubs for the first time in his long and illuStrous career; Tom- my Armour, 1927 champion; Bobby Cruickshank, wee Scot who has led the field several times but never ct the finish; and Al Espinosa, who tied Bobby Jones at Winged Foot in 1929 and lost in the playoff.
 The winner may not even be among the above mentioned IS. Parks, who won last year at Oak mont, was Q 60-i shot and wasn't mentioned in the first 50 contend CTS before the tournament started. Olin Dutra, 1884 winner, was Q 20-l shot and wasn't ranked among the first 20 contenders. Johnny Good man. 1883 winner, was Q 100-l shot at North Shore and nobody wanted him at that price.
 Parks-Dutra- Goodman, the last three champions, weren't given a tumble in advance calculations. The l036 champion is likely to come iron. the same rans as his three predG. cessors-the ignored group.