The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-28

Spaden controlled American golf du
 The two-rnan monoply won or finished second in 88 per cent of the 18 major tournaments Es.ed by the Professional Golfers Asso- ciation. But the most feared figure throughout the season was Nelson, the cool, precision professional from Toledo, O., who won approximately $44,000 in war bonds to smash all existing money records.
 From early spring until late fall, Nelson always was the man to beat. There were longer drivers, sharper putters, but there was no golfer who could match NelSon's consistent tournament edge and crisp, accurate approach shots.
 Throughout 1914 he was hotly pressed by his persistent rival, McSpaden, the man with the ever- hot butter. McSpaden topped the ruddy-faced 32-year-old pro during early spring, but as the sun became hotter, so did Nelson, proving his championship class across the torrid summer campaign.
 Nelson's outstanding triumph was his victory in the worlds richest tournament the Tam O'Shanter Al1- American open at Chicago. The $13,- 462 in war bonds which went to the winner attracted most of the na- tion's great golfers, present and past However, Nelson was never anything but a champion during the four rounds, taking the first place purse with 280 srokes, eight under par and five under Ed Dudley, P. G. A., pres ident who finished second.
 ''I'm just a hot weather golfer" Nelson said recently. T don't mind playing in the rain, but don't feel right taking my stance. And I guess because I grew up in Texas CF'ort ,Worth) where it is hot. I can't stay loose when the weather is chilly"
 In winning the all-American open, sponsored by the years greatest pro- moter, George s. May, Nelson sur- passed the previous all-time money winning mark of $19,534 set in 1888 by Sammy Snead, the lanky West Virginian with the power drive.
 Trailing Nelson were the follow ing golfers with winnings in war bonds as listed by Fred Corcoran, P. c. A. tournament manager; Mo- Spaden, $26, ,o00; Sammy Byrd, De- troit, 15,0O0; Craig Wood, Mamar- onek, N. Y, $12,000; Bob Hamilton, Evansville, Ind, $10,000.
 The only really major tournament Nelson let slip away was the Ma tional P. G. A. championship at Spokane, Wash. He finished second as the overnight sensation, Hamil- ton, exploded out of obscurity to take the title However, Hamilton faded badly in the next tournament, the All-American, as Nelson con- tinued his mechanical perfection.
 Nelson won six and McSpaden won five of the IS major tourna- ments, while the two veterans teamed together to win the Minne- sota Golden Valley. In six tourna- ments, the Gold Dust Twins" uAfAuCO AIoG dA1u SCCO14U pldCG.
 Many sensational performances were turned in during 1944, but none can rank with the overall brilliance with which Nelson played through out the season. From the start of the "A campaign until November Is, Nelson played 73 rounds of tourna- ment golf and took more than 73 strokes on only four occasions.
 By the middle of December, Nell son had won 10 of "A tournaments; shot under 70 in AS of 85 tourna- ments, and average 696 strokes per round = the best mark ever posted for tournament year.
 McSpaden's last round comeback in the victory National tournament at Chicago ranks as the greatest rally of the year. Heading into the last nine, McSpaden was five shots back of Lieutenant Ben Hogan, Army Air Force, Fort Worth, Tex. He shot three birdies and four pars to trail three strokes with four holes to go. He picked up deuce on the 17th and sank a 40-foot putt for birdie and tie on the 18th. He won the 1S-hole playoff from Hogan, 70.73