The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-27
lappy- Go-Lucky" Golfer Reaches Peak OF Pro" Career
Hagen Took Pros Out OF Overalls.
CARRIED Them In Raiment Of Prince
Second Of a series
BY HARRY GARRISON
NEA Sports Editor

Who says professional golf says
Walter Hagen.
The swashbuckling Haig, hero of
a thousand golfing yarns, actually
took professionals out of overalls
and GRABBED them in raiment befit-
ting a price.
Happy Haig did more
than exert an influence on golfing
habilimentS. He revoluntionized the
game, broke down generally &C
cepted insurmountable barriers be-
tween club members and hired
hands, wrought a democratic change
believed impossible, earned and
spent a million.
To catalogue Hagen's triumphs
would require more space than
available. Among his major victories
were the United States Open in
1914 and 10; British Open in %,
"a, '28 and 80; the P.G.A. in '2l
and for four consecutive years start
ing with "a; and the Western Open
in '16, 81, '26 and '27.
Hagen contended that the Brit
ish Open had more commercial
value than the U. S.
The Haig possessed a keen sense
OF the dramatic. Notable achieve
ments in the later years of his
career were scored after histor-
ianS had buried him as champion
ship threat. In 1929 he sailed with
the Ryder Cup squad. A match with
Archie CompSton, one of England's
best professionals, had been ar
ranged
On the crossing, Walter a con-
vivial soul, did spot of entertain
ing. He was in no condition to step
off the boat and into grueling
36-hole contest.
A forelorn looking The Haig re-
ceived 500 pounds, the largest
amount ever paid a golfer for an
exhibition in Great Britain, and the
worst licking of his life. Compston
beat him, 10 and II.
END GROSSLY EXAGGERATED
English golf writer's bemoaned
the passing from the scene of one
of the games greatest. They loved
Hagen for all his quiet arrogance.
They felt a chapter in golf history
was closing. And a week later, just
when they had Sir Walter firmly
inferred, he bagged the British Open
for the fourth time.
During one of his early trips to
England, Walter became friendly
with the Duke of Windsor, then the
Prince of Wales. This acceptance
of golf pro by royalty opened
the front doors of British golf clubs
: to many of the games mercenaries.
During the Florida land boom,
Hagen signed a three-year contract
with west coast hotel calling for
$50, 900 a year.
1t was during his sojurn in the
citrus belt that Hagen met Bobby
Jones in their celebrated Sarasota
match and defeated the immortal
Georgian, II and 10. Hagen received
Sc, 300 for this appearance, was
smart enough never to give Jones
a return match to eXpunge the
cruising defeat.
Hagen was perhaps the games
greatest scrambler and trouble
shooter. There were times when
he purposely played for the rough
so that his next shot would appear
more spectacular. But he always
knew the rought wasn't too deep,
or that it offered the most direct
path to the pin.
With all his showmanship, Hagen,
who could have been a professional
baseball player. was master of every
shot.
LOST TROPHY, HAD TO WIN
AS late as '33 Hagen tied the
all-time round for the U. S. Open
with 66 at Chicago's North Shore.
A nd he accomplished the round
with a ball out of bounds on the
18th which cost him two penalty
strokes. The record of Sc still stands.
AS late as '35, he came close to