The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-12
Henry McLemOre Says:

A@f7 aAH-fA<s~.<-N t+A1 - :.
story that I do not want to
write, but somehow my old
Newspaper training Is stronger
than my feelings. and ! must
write 1t.
II is a story Of Lawson Little
and his victory of last week in
the Los Angeles open golf
championship. one Of the five
biggest tournaments Of the
year.
Since the day he turned pro-
fessional. around four years ago.
Lawson Little has been the most
unpopular player, among his
tournament companions, Of any
golfer In the lot.
The consolation he received
after had rounds land they were
many was hollow: almost as
hollow as the congratulations he
was given after . good round.
The resentment of his fellow
pros was as understandable as
1t was objectionable. Lawson
turned professional after a tre-
mendous amateur record. In
publicity and praise he had out
done by far the men who played
the game for a living.
BROUGHT REP WITH HIM
Twice winner of the British
and American amateur titles, he
entered the professional ranks
with a name more celebrated
than any of the pros.
They looked upon him NJ
something they must stamp out.
He was . menace, or nj least
one who might be . monaco,
and they turned the guns Of
their personalities and skill upon
him. They were battling for
bread and butter and they didn't
want another threat thrown into
their ranks.
So they put the chill on him.
Unfortunately. Lawson helped
them wrap him up in Ice.
A soldiers son, the son Of q
colonel In the u. s. army, he was
as aloof and formal as dress
parade at West Point. The pros
scarcely gave him a nod, and he
scarcely acknowledged the
scarce nod they gave him.
FROM ACTUAL CONTACT
This isn't hearsay. This is
what ! saw as a golf reporter. !
knew Lawson Little, and liked
him, since 1884 when he, as a
player, and !. as a writer. went
TO Scotland with the Walker cup
team. knew him before he ever
won a tournament.
Now ! get down to the story
/ didn't want to write hut feel
that I must. Here WAS a man
the pros resented. When ! say
the pros ! mean some Of the
closest friends have--Tommy
Armour. Paul Runyan, Jimmy
Thomson, Craig Wood, Harry
Cooper and almost all Of the
rest of the men whose names
you see In the golf headlines.
They overlooked one thing. He
was tough as an amateur and
they made him tougher as pro
by the way they treated him.
Just as the veteran ballplayers
made Ty Cobb meaner and hard
er than he ever would have been
by their treatment of him, 90
did the pros put the iron in the
heart of Little.
FIGHT OF FORCES
This Is no criticism of Little
or the men on the other side. As
matter of fact IL was battle
between forces. both of whom
were equipped with an abnormal
amount of courage.
Little shot 65. five under
par, to win the Los Angeles tour
nament. II was one of the great
est rounds of golf ever played.
1T was an amazing show o.
skill and courage" Walter Ha'
gen said when Little finished.
Little started In n driving rain
The course was soaked, thu
greens ran water. the hazards
were triple hazards. A par n
course under normal conditions
the Los Angeles layout WAS n pa
IS when Little started out.
Five strokes behind the leadel
when the final round started, h
overcame the weather and him
self to take ii all.
Believe me when ] tell "
that Lawson's win was one o
the great triumphs of golf. And
as a postscript. the chief reasoi
he achieved 1t was a girl names
Dorothy. But then, OF course
rN-...tA.. e.. q storxr ". herself