Evening star., 1942-04-08
Raps P. 6. A. Manager
For Using Sam in
Publicity Stunt
WroneIe With Coreoron
EnIivens Atmosphere
Of Masters Event
BY GAYLE TALBOT,

AUGUSTA, Ga, April st is
difficult to say which is attracting
more attention around the wistaria-
scented clubhouse OF the Augusta
national golf courSe-the teeoff to-
morrow in probably the last masters
tournament until after the war or
the wordy battle going on between
Gene Sarazen of the old guard and
Freddy Corcoran of the p. G. A.
Freddy already had enough on
his mind, what with having spent
two days and nights trying to shoe
horn his competitors into a hotel
filled to the scuppers with Army
officers and war workers. Many of
golfdom's leading lights even now
are not sure that they have lodg-
ings until the tournament ends
Sunday.
So the tournament director and
publicity chief of the P. G. A. un-
doubtedly was not at his best last
night when Sarazen sailed into him
in public for having encouraged
good-natured Sammy Snead to play
a couple of practice holes bare
footed. Corcoran had done it prin-
cipally as a lark, by way Of demon
strating the versatility of one of his
star performers, but Sarazen, who
still wears knickers and has his
own deep-rooted ideas about golf
and its traditions, was outraged.
Gene Lays 1t On.
Whats the big idea?" he rallied at
the already smoldering Corcoran.
rs that your idea of publicity for
the Masters-making a Huckleberry
Finn out of Snead? What we need
these days is Masters, not barefoot
bdSs. Can you imagine Walter Ha-
gen. playing barefoot on this
coure?"
"Sread can stand on his record"
snapped Corcoran. "I1l match him
barefoot against you, for money"
Yes, and I'll stand on my rec
ord" Gene retorted. I've won all
the big tournaments, including this
one, and won them wearing shoes
not kits or Boy Scout uniforms.
Maybe Sam had better win some
thing with shoes on before he tries
stunts like this"
Corcoran, with admirable re-
straint, tried to explain that it was
all In fun, but Sarazen continued to
bear down. When Snead appeared
he demanded what Sammy meant
by practicing for the Masters in any
such condition.
Il only wanted to see how good
the grass felt, Gene" Snead said,
and then ducked out fast.
Sam probably felt the need Of
sleep, for he had spent all the pre-
vious night in a bus coming here
from his home at Hot Springs. Va,
and had gone on the course without
wink. Snead has won a round
$4,000 in prize money since he hit
the limelight few years ago.
Corcoran Returns Genes Fire.
At any rate, Sarazen and Corcoran
went at it hot and heavy for about
half hour with Corcoran not neg
lecting to point out that Gene never
exactly had Stunned publicity.
I'm tired hearing that story about
how you bought yourself loaf of
bread and went trudging out to the
course to win the Open in 1921"
he said. This is another day
Maybe we need something new to
get you off that yarn"
That's right" said the defender
of golf's noble traditions I'm from
across the tracks, but I never played
barefoot in public"
With the field at last count con-
sisting of only 36 players-smallest
number ever-the Masters seems
comparatively sad this year. Most
of the players think this is the last
one for some years.
Bobby Jones, the host and greatest
of gallery attractions, is playing
poorly, hooking nearly every ball.
Craig Wood, the defending cham
pion, also is far off his game. About
the only thing that remains COM
pletely normal Is Ben Hogan's golf
ing genius. 1t is almost taken for
granted that the little Texan will
win.