Evening star., 1953-04-05
Defending Champion
Favored Despite Jinx
On Successive Wins
BY the AsSoeiofed Press


Snead, the long-ball hitter from
White Sulphur Springs, w. Va,
will defend his title against golf
dom's greatest when the an
nual Masters tournament starts
Thursday.
Snead, hoping for a third VIC
tory to match the record Of jim
my Demaret, passed up the cur
rent Azalea Open at Wilmington,
N. c., to get ready for the 72-hole
grind over the 6.800-yard Au-
gusta National Golf Club course
The Slammer must overcome
precedent, as well as the terrific
pressure such a select field gen.
crates, in seeking this years
crown. No golfer ever has won
two successive Masters since the
tournament was inaugurated in
1884.
Several Foreign Stars Entered.
Not only are the top golfers Of
the United States competing, but
several foreign stars also are in
the field.
Peter Thompson, 23-year-old
Australian who was runnerup to
Bobby Locke in the 1852 British
Open, already is on the scene.
Ricardo Rossi, 24-year-old ace
from Brazil, is en- route. Rossi
Is a past winner of the Uruguay
Open and finished second to
Snead in the 1852 Brazilian
Open.
Picking a winner would be
difficult, but there are definite
favorites. Despite the link"
against consecutive victories,
Snead is among those considered
most likely to walk off with the
biggest hunk of prize money,
which will total more than
$25,
Many Back Mangrum.
Many think Lloyd Mangrum
is overdue for Masters cham
pionship. Mangrum, who has
been going great on the winter
circuit, twice has been Masters
runnerup and has finished high
among the leaders consistently.
The fellow with the muStache
also holds the tournament rec
ord for one round, a 81 he posted
In 1910, one of his runnerup
years. Par is 36-36-72.
Other top-drawer entries in
clude Ben Hogan, Cary Middle
coh. Tommy Bolt. Lew Worsham.
Jack Burke. jr., Ted Kroll, Jim
Ferrier, Doug Ford and Chandler
Harper.
No amateur ever has won the
Masters. Best effort so far came
in 1947 when Frank Stranahan
tied for second. Stranahan
Harvie Ward, 1852 British anna
teur champion, and Jack West
land. 1852 National amateur It'll
ist and Representative in Con-
gress from the State of Wash
ington, give the Simon-pures
strong representation.
Arrive Early for Practice.
Stra n h n, Hogan, Burke,
Claude Harmon, Olin Dutra,
Craig Wood, Vic Ghezzi and Don
Cherry spearheaded early ar
rivals who want to get in some
extra practice rounds. Official
practice opens tomorrow.
Best score turned in so far
was Hogan's 66 Thursday. This
might be a bit misleading be-
cause it is not customary to
hole out all puts during prac-
tice. And putting usually is the
real test at the Masters because
the green's are extra large, fast
and tricky.
Fairways at the Augusta Ma
tional course are in good shape.
although the greens seem to
have more grass than usual, they
will be fast as always.
Course Picturesque.
The course, bordered by color
full shrubs, plants and trees, is
one of the most picturesque in
the world. The 18th holes, called
the azalea hole, is particularly
eye-catching right now with
azaleas and dogwood in full
bloom. More late-blooming
plants are being set out in case
the azaleas are gone by tourna-
ment time.
AS usual, Augusta accommo-
dations are booked and it's doubt
full a room will be available
within 80 miles of the city which
already is jam-packed because
of the boom which accompanied
construction of the H-bomb ma
terials plant just across the Sa-
vannah River in South Carolina.