Evening star., 1953-04-08
Only ; Names
Heard in Talk
About Masters
Sneod, Mongrum and
Hogan Stond Out on
Eve Of Tournament
By MerreII WhittIesey
StaE Staff cerrespondenf


Mangrum, COLTS big three of
the past few years, pick their
spots to such an extent, now
that they're all in their 4Os, that
it's hard to realize they haven't
played in a tournament to-
gether since the National Open
last summer.
At that time, Hogan finished
a poor third and Snead and
Mangrum tied with Earl Stewart,
jr., for 10th. Prior to the
Open, they were together only
in the 1852 Masters, which
Snead won, Mangrum was sixth
and Hogan tied for seventh.
Yet on the eve of the 18th
Masters tournament. which
starts tomorrow over the great
Augusta National Golf Club
course, you hear only three
names-Snead. Hogan and
Mangrum.
There were only two practice
round galleries of any extent
yesterday and one followed
Snead in round with Lew
Worsham. Lloyd Mangrum and
Bob Hamilton. The other trailed
Hogan, who was in equally fast
company with Jack Burke,
Jimmy Demaret, Cary Middlecoff
and Claude Harmon.
All those except the lightning
in-a-bottle selectors who go for
the long shots are picking either
Snead, Hogan or Mangrum.
Snead is a tWo-time winner and
once runnerup, Hogan a winner
and twice runnerup, and Man.
grum hasn't won but has been
second twice.
The IL PGA-Sponsored 72-
hole Open tournaments on the
winter tour have produced 10
different winners, with Man
grum and Tommy Bolt the only
two-time victors.
Chandler Harper, Tony Hol-
guin, Cary Middlecoff. Snead,
Dutch Harrison, Worsham, Earl
Stewart and Jerry Barber each
won once, but with the excep-
ton of Snead the others here
virtually are grouped in the
field.
Hogan Played in Three.
Hogan has played in three
tournaments this year. all Of
them special events. He was
second to Jimmy Demaret in a
54-hole event at Palm Spring.
Calf, second to Pete Cooper
in a 36-hole $4,000 tourna-
ment at Seminole in Florida.
and tied for eighth in a 18-hole
pro-am at Aiken, S. C.
Yet Ben has been here for 10
days practicing and has yet to
shoot as high as par.
Mangrum comes here as 1885
leading money winner by virtue
of a fast start. But he left the
tour in Texas and didn't pick it
up again until last week in Will
mington, N. c., where he played
as a personal favor to a friend.
For the first time in years,
Snead passed up the winter tour
until Houston, where he was
sixth. He won at Baton Rouge,
stayed out a week, played in
three more and skipped last
week.
But the Masters, which is
pressing the National Open as
the most important golf title in
the world, has all three top stars
and all of them are trying.
After a round yesterday which
included seven brides, Snead
practiced for almost an hour. He
was trying out his favorite club,
a one iron, which he has little
use for on most courses, but uses
on three holes here. After that,
he spent another hour on the
practice green. including some
time spent brushing off hecklers
who would like to see him change
his stroke.
Course in Great Shape.
Following an all-night rain
Monday night, the course is in
its finest condition in many
years. The green's are not par
ticularly fast-yet-but they'll
be cut twice more before the bell
rings tomorrow morning.
The biggest field in the history
of the Masters is assured, with
68 already registered and "a ex-
pected. Fellows like Sam Parks,
Jess Sweetser, Johnny Revolta,.
Chick Evans, Billy Burke, Denny
Shute, Byron Nelson, Gene Sara
zen, Robert Sweeny, jr., and
many others are here for fell
lowship, to play a great golf
course and be part of a unique
event.
The kids who are eligible are
on hand for a share of the prize
money, which may reach $50, 900,
and a chance at golf1ng fame.