The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-30
Ouimet Beat British Masters
To Put Golf On Page One
Third of a series
BY HARRY GRAYSON
NEA CpOrtS Editor

American golf had received spor-
adic stimulation. There was Turk
ing suspicion, EXCHANGED by the ex-
ploits of Walter j. Travis, Jerry
Iravers, Johnny McDermott and the
periodic splashes of brilliance by
Mike Brady and Tom Mcnamara,
that perhaps the English weren't
unbeatable. But always looming
large on the horizon were the fig
ures of the British masters, Harry
Vardon and his touring companion,
Big Ted Ray
McDermott, winner of the United
States Open in 1911 and IL after
losing a play-off in 10, predicted
Vardon and Ray would be beaten at
Brookline in 10. Johnny, with an
abiding faith in his ability to beat
anybody with drop of British
blood In his veins, was confident it
was he who would win.
But it was a slightly lantern
jaWed youth of 20, unknown out
side the Boston aree. who upend-
ed the touring Britons, won the title
in a play-off to give American golf
its first genuine inspirational hot
foot. Frances Ouimet was the lad.
Young Ouimet knew every I'M
dulation at Brookline, but not as
a member. The son of a garden
er, he had neither the background
nor wherewithal at that time to call
himself a member of so sacrosanct
an organization as The Country
Club of Brookline, dubbed by a Bos-
ton columnist the Sanctuary of
Snob.
Vardon and Ray finished with 3O4
Crestfallen Americans, scanning the
scoreboard, conceded the foreign
victory, began to trudge off in the
rain.
BROUGHT GOLF TO PEOPLE
Word reached the clubhouse that
Ouimet, who learned his golf as
caddie at Brokline, could tie by
playing the last six holes in one
under par No one believed Ouimet
was capable of such fine scoring, es-
pecially since rain was drenching
the countryside.
But Ouimet dropped 25-foot
putt for his par at the 18th and
a 10-footer on the sodden 10Th for
another This was the hole where
it was believed he might pick up
the birdie. 1t was on the next green
that he rammed in 15-footer for
birdie g. and he bagged his par on
the final hole.
In many respects the replay was
one of the most amazing perform
ances of golf. Ouimet, who ought
to have been palsied at the thought
of playing the great Britishers, not
only beat both but he bested their
best ball with 70 to 76 for VAR
don, the stylist, and II for Ray
Il was numb throughout the en-
tire play-off," recalls Ouimet, Bos-
ton broker until he went into war
manufacturing work. Il was numbed
by the thought of being there, didn't
know what was doing until it was
all over"
1t was the first time an American
amateur had beaten Britain's best
professionals. A trim caddie per-
forming the feat brought golf to
the people.
1t was the start of the boom eX-
perienced by American golf in the
ZOOS following World War 1. There
we're 1000 American golf courses at
the turn of the century, 1900 in ID
The total now numbers 5000.
REPEATED II YEARS LATER
Ouimet won the United States
Amateur in IA, repeated II years
later. He was semi-finalist five
times, and, in 80 as the defend
Ing champion at Baltimore's Five
Farms, encountered slender George
Voigt, who went out in 80, even par,
only to be five d. N to the New
England veterans incredible 30.
Ouimet eliminated Voigt in the
first round, and 5, with seven pars
and six brides.
1t was George Voigt who almost
spoiled Bobby Jones Grand Slam
two years earlier only to blow up In
the semi-final of the British Anna
teur after having the immortal
Georgian down with five to play.
Ouimet has been member of
every Walker Cup team since the
inception of the international series
with England in 20. Fe hasn't al
ways played, 'aciously surrender
ing his place on occasion to
young player whom he considered
better qualified.
But no alker Cup team would
seem complete without the player
who made America golf conscious,
and a short time later was black
balled by the ruling paters of golf
and declared not an amateur be-
cause he earned his livelihood pur-
veying sporting goods.
That was rectified while Ouimet
was in an Army uniform during
World War I, however, and isn't
even mentioned in polite golfing cir
cles anymore.
Francis Ouimet is now member
of the U. S. G. A. executive COM
mittee and chairman of its champ
ionship committee.
The grand character who put golf
on page one has been vastly more
than a player of the game.