Evening star., 1950-06-11
Tension Is Old Stuff
For 7 Other Wives;
Crowd Lionizes Ben
BY 9 stoH Correspondent Of The stor


George Fazio. unaccustomed to
the National Open spotlight but
mighty happy to be contender,
waited with his wife and 11-year-
old daughter Rosalie on the club
house porch today while Lloyd
Mangrum and Ben Hogan tied
him for the Open title and others
skidded higher than his 287
score.
Outwardly calm, Fazio sat with
his family and friends in a cor
ner where they couldn't see any,
thing but the long-vacated first
hole. They listened but didn't
move as Mangrum scrambled to
his 287 score. and stayed put as
Hogan putted for a tie. They
knew by the happy roar of the
crowd that it would be a three
way playoff tomorrow.
Mrs. Fazio, who with Rosalie
and George will take up residence
in an apartment on the new
Woodmont Club property near
Rockville this week, walked out
to watch her husband finish his
round. but at that time even the
Fazios thought little of first
place finish.
Looked Better and Better.
But as the scores mounted and
that 287 looked better and better,
the we'll wishers grew. Suddenly,
after Hogan finished. George was
taken away by photographers. ra-
dio announcers and reporters. The
fellow who has been identified for
four years az the 1946 Canadian
Open champion, had new and
bigger claim to golfing fame.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Mangrum and
Mrs. Hogan, who have been
through this before, remained in
the clubhouse, not even ventur-
ing into the mob to watch their
husbands finish.
Mangrum, who apparently had
tossed away the title, brooded in
q corner of the locker room. While
Fazio was being congratulated for
his fine finish, Mangrum was be-
ing consoled as the man who
threw away the title.
81 just started making mis-
takes and couldn't stop" Lloyd
kept saying. SILLY damn golf"
Occasionally somebody would give
him the lowdown on the latest
scores, but he didn't seem to be
interested. as he didn't think he
had chance.
Greatest Cheer for Hogan.
Hogan. last one in. received the
greatest cheer of the day. There
weren't too many around when
Fazio finished, and the crowd
knew Mangrum wouldn't appre-
ciate much applause. Reporters
dashed up the steps after Ben
and cornered him in the locker
room.
The first questions were as to his
health. and then compliments on
his great comeback. The sensa-
tionalists tried to make lot OF
the fact that he stood up for SO
holes. :,
Look. fellows" a dead-tired
Hogan said, I'm tired of hearing
about all this comeback stuff and
I know the public is tired Of read
ing it. I'm all right"
BY this time, the photographers
. arrived with Fazio and Mangrum.
How do you feel?" were Man
grum's first words. Fine Hogan
told him. "Okay," Lloyd answered,
lets get this over with and I'll see
you tomorrow" That was all their
conversation.
Fazio. who has a reputation as
one of the nice guys of pro golf,
was trying to please everybody. In
fact. he's such nice guy that he
didn't have the heart to tell some
of his we'll wishers on the course
to let him alone although he
wished they would have.
Lay oH tic Injury StuU.
Somebody told Hogan a story
had been circulated that he
slipped on the 18th tee and hurt
his leg. That's news to me-"
Hogan answered, please. fellows.
lay off this injury stuff"
Somebody wanted to know why
the playoff would be so late q
p.mD, necessitating second
playoff if they tied tomorrow.
The answer is that Philadelphia S
blue law prohibits sports events
for which admission is charged
starting before 2 o'clock. Custom is
to start playoffs early, so if
there's another tie, it could be
played off in the afternoon.
Fazio finally was permitted to
leave for Conshocken, where he
still has a home. and Hogan and
Mangrum for their hotels. Be-
cause Hogan still wears protective
rubber stockings on his legs, he
showers and dresses at the hotel.
Everybody's parting statement
was that they'll be here early to-
morrow. Hogan is great favorite
since his magnificent comeback.
Fazio is regarded as home town
product and he will have thou
sands of rooters. Mangrum always
has been popular. But somebody
has to win. maybe not tomorrow.
but surely Monday.
WHITTLESEY.