Evening star., 1953-06-09

his home
Parks had just turned pro after span amateur
during which he'd nothing of national Importance The
winter after he'd the Open, Sam went tour with the
big boys whom he the nominal head He won total
OF six bucks.
THE OAKMONT COURSE BEGAN to win for
itself the bane of favores far back 199 when Dave
Heron the Amateur. On form he didn't belong
not with Francis Oumet Jerry Traves and Chick Evans
in the field but he Armours Open triumph the
killing great finish 18th with 312
strokes Par is 2SS
There surprise in '38, when the Amateur held
at Oakmont Willie Turnesa of the numerous TurnesaS bobbed
the winner The Turnesas fine golfers but at that
time Willie hardly expected to whip the likes of Johnny
Goodman Gus Moreland, Bud Ward, Johnny Fischer and
Ross Somervile
Only '25 when Jones won Amateur did the undis-
putably No. public choice win at Oakmont in of the
USGAs big But. then Jones cut above all other
golfers He had the hard lightning figured out
He avoided conquered the deeply furrowed traps when
frequently only the top of the ball was visible
TT CAN BE ARGUED with logic of course that II an
outsider long shot conquer the traps and putt
truly the the big stars any golf
other SPORT conditions normally one
another To this day golfers have wondered whether
favored his familiarity the course or
whether he lucky whether the rest of the field
of took the week off masse.
Oakmont Parks home course Still is in fact! Sam
no longer is golfer He's steel executive and
as a prominent Oakmon member, Sam probably
suited such matters how hard to roll the green's
how deep to furrow the traps would be interesting
what his recommendations like for SAM himself
when the beating everybody green's
in 35 like waxed floors the de putt that barely
missed the cup rolled and and A second
putt from IL or IS feet away not uncommon.
The two most bewildered Open golfers encountered
Sam Snead loser at Merton when incredi-
BILE the 72nd hole when won Snead wore
CLASSY look he stumbled off the 18th green Mero
where he had the title (Which still escapes his hip
pocket Parks, oblging courteous astonshed young
said in the locker Il don't know how did it.
One of those things I'd say"
THE RED-HOT FAVORITE here is Ben Hogan naturally
He's already three Opens the other day practice
round he shot 3-under-par SO In warm-up. But
Hogan is saying
st don't believe anybody is going par
rounds. If anybody shoot par) think
he'll win"
Earlier in the week Hogan also said who do think
has the best chance? Well maybe Parks again. Who
knows? I'm not kidding. It'll be somebody who play
these tricky 1t could be Parks outsider"
Could be- Parks wasn't the only Open fluke There
Tony Manero in 1885, another fellow who didn't figure to
have chance The with the hot putter likely to upset
all the odds Parks for instance puts He all
the rolls all the green's Where he couldn't match the
acknowledged off the tees the fairways
rough Parks ouputted them 1t like the Giant winning
ball game in the Polo Grounds with Chinese home
Chances the fellows with the delicate touch will take
down most of the money this week Pro Allan Burton of the
Army Navy Club for example, chose the Bobby Locketype
long against hterS such Sam Snead. But
in the final analysis have to stick with Hogan He
turn on the power and be nhumanly delicatae, too.