Evening star., 1941-04-04
Game Best in Years,
Claims Craig, Now
5 Strokes Up
Second Spot at Augusta
Is Shared by Nelson,
Little, Hogan, Goegin
BY ROMNEY WHEELER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

AUGUSTA, Ga, April 4-Olo
Mr.. Runnerup of golf, blond Craig
Wood of Mamaroneck, n. Y, took a
putter today and set out to muir
der the historic wheeze about be-
ing ever a bridesmaid but never a
bride.
Craig has had to live with that
one for eight years-ever since Den
ny Shute tied him in the 1888 Brit
ish Open and then took the play
off. He heard it in 1884, when Hor-
ton Smith beat him out in the
Augusta Masters by stroke. And
in 1885. when Gene Sarazen sank a
double-eagle to tie him-and won
the playoff.
But today was Woods day in the
i94l Masters Tournament. Playing
near faultleSS golf from tee to pin,
the Winged Foot professional took a
sensational 66 in yesterdays OPEN
ing round of the $4,000 event, 6 un-
der par and strokes better than
the players favorites-Ben
Hogan, Byron Nelson and Lawson
Little. Going into the second round
this afternoon. it was a margin
which only equally sensational play
ing, or a complete blowup by Brother
Wood, could overcome.
Playing Better Than in Years.
Fright now" he said, I'm play
ing better than I have III years.
I'm putting better. I was only of on
one drive, and my iron shots are
good. That's all there is to it."
Wood made his 66 the hard way.
rounding the first nine of the Au-
gusta national course in 32-4 under
par-against the gusty buffeting of
a stiff northeaster. Then he played
the back nine almost nonchalantly
in "a
P. G.. A. Champion Nelson, voted
by fellow pros last week as most
likely to win the Masters Tourna-
ment, had galloping jitters at the
end of four holes.
I've never played course as
hard as the wind made this one,
he said. IF some one had told ME
I could pick up at the end of four
holes and take par 70, Id have
been back in the clubhouse in a
minute. And happy to get it
He wound up with a II, punched
In second place with Hogan, United
States Open Champion Little and
Willie Goggin of White Plains. N. Y.
Harry Cooper of Chicago and Felix
serafln, Scranton, Pa, were next
with 70.
Demaret Well Back.
Jimmy Thomson of Chicopee
Mass; Johnny Bulla, Greensboro,
N. c.; Sam Snead. Hot Springs, Va;
Tony Penna, Dayton, Ohio; Sam
Byrd, Philadelphia; Clayton Heaf-
ner, Linville, N. c.; Ed Dudley,
Augusta, and Jack Ryan, Louisville,
KY, followed at 73,
Jimmy Demaret. last years winner
was we'll back with II, while Bobby
Jones took 76.
Woods great performance in COM
piling the biggest opening round
lead in the tournaments 8-year
history hammered down his odds
from 10 to l to an unbelievable
to /, which later eaSed away to to
l. Hogan, Nelson and Little were
listed at to l, Snead, to I, and
Goggin. 10 to |.
If Wood, 39-year-old veteran Of
big time golf, wins this years Mas
ters' he'll overcome old father aver
age. Only twice has the tournament
been won by flrst-day leaders. Hor-
ton Smith did it in 1884. And Mel
son duplicated in 1887.
Wood has won 19 tournaments
but never one of the Big Four-the
United States and British Opens.
the P. G. A. championship or the
Masters. After Shute beat him out
of the British Open, he lost to Paul
Runyan on the 38th hole in the
1884 P. G. A final. In 1889 he tied
with Nelson and Shute for the
United States Open title, only to
have Nelson win the playoff.