Evening star., 1942-06-03
Two Capture Major
Crowns as Rivals
MuH 1.Footers
Nelson Latest Notable
Example Of Golf as
'HumbIine Come
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent of The Star

Special Correspondent Oh Inc Star.
1t was George Low, the veteran
Scot, who first called golf "the
'unlbljn game"
Two of our greatest golfers have
found that out. One is Byron Nelson,
sout-hearted competitor and bril-
liant swinger, who dropped his
PGA title to Vic Ghezzi a year
ago by blowing 21a foot putt The
same Byron took the same deadly
cyanide route at the Seaview G. C.
in Atlantic City last week against
Corpl. Jim Turnesa by blowing an
other putt estimated at Is or 18
inches. This is putting length that
ordinarily would be pushover for
a 10-year- kid or a 90-year-old
veteran. Both morbid events. hap
pened to one of the best golfers in
the world.
On 1.-The 'umblin' side" there also
Is Ben Hogan, the top campaigner
OF the last two years, who has yet
to win national crown. The same
thing happened to Macdonald Smith,
an all-time great, through 25 years.
In his final chance before going
into the Navy Sammy Snead shook
the jinx loose. Swinging Sam, the
Virginia styIst, now is in possession
of at least one major golf champion
ship, for the first time in his life.
Sam Barely Under Wire.
No one can say when there will
be another PGA or another National
Open. So Virginia Sam barely got
in under the wire with a golf swing
that easily might have won two
National Opens and at least couple
PGA crowns.
That's the way golf is The men
tai, the psychological, the tension
side of the game is such a big part
of the whole affair that anything
can happen, no matter what the
odds.
COrpl. Jim Turnesa, member of
the famous golfng family, was the
last PGA sensation. Any one who
can beat Hogan and Nelson and
the nonpariel upsetter of the year.
The Turnesas have had an un-
usual experience in the matter of
short puts. A few years ago Willie
Turnesa was playing Johnny Fischer
in the National Amateur Champion
ship at Oaknont. On the 18th
green Fischer had a 19-inch putt
to break up the match. Johnny
missed it. On the 18th hole he
missed a 2-footer that would have
closed out the match again AS a
result of these two blown puts Will
lie Turnesa went along to win the
amateur championship.
Nelson and Cooper Blow.
In the same way Nelson had
short putt to crowd out Jim Turnesa.
Nelson missed it.
So We have two of the TurneSas
saved in big championship matches
by missed puts that averaged little
more than foot in length. Which
reminds me that saw Harry Cooper
kick away a National Open crown
at Oakmont in 1927 by taking three
puts from 3 feet on the 17th green.
You've heard of "the Seven
Bounding Gordons,' The Four
Marvellous Millers," etc. The Seven
Terrific TurneSaS" should be added
to this list
Sixteen years ago Joe Turnesa led
Bobby Jones by four strokes at
Scioto with only nine holes of play
left Only a near miracle finish
by Bobby during young cyclone
pulled him through. A little later
on Joe Turnesa carried Walter
Hagen to the 36th green in the PGA
final.
Willie Win Big One.
In 1888 Willie Turnesa came romp-
ing along to win the U. S. amateur
title at Oakmont. Now Corpl. Jim
Turnesa wipes out Hogan and Mel
son, two of the best. and forces
Snead to the wire in the PGA
show.
This is the stoutest showing any
single American family has made in
golf.
Years ago flock of Smith
brothers-Alex, Mac, Willie and one
or two more-came over from
Carnoustie to bag championships
and other fast field tournaments.
Alex, Mac and Willie were the
strongest playing family combina-
ton. But they all we're pros, while
the TurneSas have given their
strength to both main divisions.
And there are more Turnesas who
play golf we'll In more peaceful
davs "The Seven Terrific Turnesas"
could put on high-class strolllng
show around the golfing map, meet
ING all comers in family groups.