The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-14
(Reg. U. S. Pat. OFF,
BY JACK CUDDY
UNITED Press staff Correspondent

NOHAOcu NECSS StdAA SOEICSpOAuShp
New Rochelle, N. Y, June IA. -
CUP - Handsome Sammy Byrd, in
the blue Stacks, yellow sports shirt
and white visor, will tee off to-
morrow in the $13,333 War Bond
Red Cross open golf championship
over the Wykagyl Country Club
Course, wondering sadly if he will
be able to complete the four-day
tourney.
At any moment the word may
come: Your father is dead" and
Sammy will break away from the
tournament and return to Birming-
ham, Ala.
That's the way Sammy's dad
wants it. Bronzed, Brown-haired
Byrd would rather not be playing
tomorrow. With reluctance, he en-
tered last weeks Philadelphia In
quirer competition in the Pennsyl-
vania metropolis, which he won to
the tune of $6,7oo.
But Sammy, former New York
Yankee outf1elder, is carrying on
under instructions from his dying
father, Rhone Byrd, who from his
sick bed told Sammy, There's moth
ing you can do here for me, son.
You'll make me happy by going out
and playing the best golf you know
how until"
Sammy, former baseball UNDER
study to the great Babe Ruth, did
as his father requested. Playing
with bitterly-forced smile. he at
tanned the greatest golf of his career
at Philadelphia, winning the tour
nament in a walkaway-for his dad.
He finished Sunday with a 274 for
70 holes of medal play, seven strokes
ahead of his nearest competitor.
That night in his hotel, he wept
over the $6,700 in war bonds =
richest prize ever given in United
States golf history.
Near sunset yesterday. Sammy sat
in Slated chair on the porch of
the locker room here, overlooking
the ninth green of the 6,800-yard
Wykagyl course. He has just fin
ished feeling out the fairwayS and
greens in casual fashion that would
not interfere with the womens
tournament.
Tight" Course
He discussed the course and the
mems tourney, which opens tomor-
row. His bearing did not betray his
hidden grief, with which only close
friends were acquainted. He said it
was tight" course, requiring great
accuracy in driving. For that rea-
son, he believed that Craig Wood of
Mamaroneck. N. Y, who finished
second at Philadelphia, had the best
chance to win. This, despite the
fact that Byron Nelson was top
choice at IA in the New York bet
ting at Toots Shor's.
Byrd, now professional at the
Plum Hollow club in Detroit, was
an outfielder with the Yankees from
1929 through "a, after which he
became property of the Cincinnati
Reds for two seasons. Reporters
asked him which was the tougher
game-baseisn or golf? He replied
CitlJlldblCtligs 0OAl nc CADAdl1cQ
that natural ability can enable
chaps like Joe DiMaggio and Ted
williams to break into major league
baseball and become stars almost
Immediately; but that years Of ex-
perience are necessary to become
prominent in golf. After which,
the ultimate in concentration is re-
CURED on every green
While sitting on the porch. Sammy
agreed to meet Craig Wood in a
special Red Cross match. probably
at Detroit on July 4. Fred Cor
coran, tournament manager OF the
P.G,A. will announce the definite
site and date later. Sammy went
into the locker room and telephoned
Babe Ruth at a New York hospital.
He cheered Ruth, despite the lead
in his own heart.