The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-16
Today's Sport
 Parade
BY HENRY McLEMORE

BY HENRY McLEMOKE
 United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Toledo, O., June 6-(UP)-Hon- estly, the man is unbelievable. In his way he ranks along with the Grand Canyon, the leaning tower of Pisa, and the Sphinx as sights to behold. Walter Hagen, I mean.
 He should be at the Worlds Fair in a glass booth. with a barker out side advertising him as the athletic marvel of all time, and well wortn the 25 cents admission.
 It was in 1911, mind you, 28 years ago, that Hagen played in his first golf tournament. Taft was president when Hagen first went out to the golfng wars, and most of his pres ent day rivals had yet to be born into this world of downhill lies, foot printed traps, and parallel hazards.
 Yet, only yesterday, Walter began his ten thousandth or so tourna- ment, and how do you think he started? Like a man crowding that 5o-year mark? Like man tired of it all? Like man willing to rest on the laurels of 55 major tournaments won?
 Hardly. Over the tough course of the Inverness Country Club with a stiff wind increasing the hazards, and faced by the hottest pack Of golfers in the country, Hagen started = Birdie = par = birdie = birdie.
 He ran down 45-foot putt on the first hole. Hit four fine shots on the second. Laid a seven iron dead to the pin on the third and slammed a full brassie curling to the flag on the fourth. He was just around in 69 on his own stick, and had he been giv- en any help by his partner, Gene Sarazen, would have taken the lead in the Inverness four ball invitation tournament with victory over Hor- ton Smith and Harry Cooper, a pair of better -than-fair hackers.
 Hagen accomplished this 69 with no practice. Until he stepped on the first tee, with 5000 customers watch ing him, he hadn't been on 8 golf course for Il days. And he hadn't spent these Il days at Boy S5cut camp, diving and swimming and hiking over the hills, and eating three substantial meals day. He had spent them in pursuit of pleasure, his favorite sport, while the hands of the clock whirled mer- rily from 12 to 12.
 I'll take it back-Hagen did have little practice before he shot his 69, alone, he slipped of behind a barn near the course and hit a few shots.
 T thought I'd better see if I could hit the fool ball before I went out before all the people," Hagen said in explanation later.
 He took most of the gallery with him when, silk-shirted, hair-slicked back, he strutted vainly down the first fairway. The Inverness course covers acres and acres but Hagen, the one and only Walter, dominated every square foot of it as he strode gallantly around. He gave the crowd a tremendous show, as he always does, acknowledging applause with gestures worthy of Cyrano, and keeping up running fire of con- versation with the spectators. After one drive his ball fell close to Coopers. He had. a good lie. Cooper bad one. With eyes twinkling, he turned to Harry and said:
 My boy, you must learn to live right if you want to get good lies That has been my motto ever since I started"
 Back in the locker room, 1t was Hagen's bench that was crowded He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He told story a minute and was showing no signs of run- ming out when dusk settled over the course. A
 The tremendous popularity of Hagen, after all these years, is shown by the first request of goli tournament sponsors. The man they want, first of al. is walter. the ol Haig, the mightiest fairway warrior of them oil.
 Long may the green fairwayl beckon to him. long may his laugh brighten the locker rooms.