Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-15
Indians Open Bid to Pull Away From Pack BY Playing Senators
National Open Payoff
is Increased 70 Pei;
Other Changes Made
BY the Assoeiatsd Press


SPRINGFIELD, N. j., June Is.
The winner of the National
Open golf tournament opening
Thursday at Baltusrol will re-
ceive a $4,000 prize. a bonus of
$1,000.
The United States Golf Associ-
alton announced today a 20 per
cent bonus all down the line,
raising the total purse from
$4,000 to $4,000. The bonus
applies to this year only.
Second prize win be $500
instead Of the scheduled $4,000:
third will be 81 500. fourth $1,000.
etc. Players finishing 18th
through the Goth positions will
get $24O. All others in the final
low COS and ties will receive $3.50.
The USGA announced also
that pairings for the last SO holes
Saturday would be fixed by lot.
Ruling Is Clarified.
The leaders will be paired with
each other, drawn by lot. This
makes it possible. for instance,
that Ben Hogan and Sam Snead
be bracketed. Previously leaders
were seeded.
The remainder of the field
also will be drawn by lot for
the remaining starting times.
Starting times of the leaders
will be spaced.
The USGA clarified its ruling
regarding exemption of former
champions, starting next year.
The last five individuals who
have won the championship will
be exempt from qualifying, not
winners of the last five opens.
Since Hogan has won four
of the last flve opens. If the lat
ter rule were in effect. only he
and Julius Boros. 1852 winner.
plus this years champion, would
be exempt.
Meanwhile, a cautious predic-
ton that this may be the year
for young professional to break
Hogan's monopoly on the title
was made by Johnny Farrell,
Baltusrol pro and ''host" for the
54th Open. His forecast was
based more on the condition of
the lush, lengthy BaltuSrol
course than on the condition of
Hogan and Snead, both OF whom
have been beset by ailments.
Snead Not Ready, He Says.
But to the general public. Ho-
gan and Snead still were the
men, and their ailments were top
news. Hogan is recovering from
an illness that delayed for a
week his participation in Ma
tional Golf Day. Snead has
come up with q stiff, sore neck
and shoulder that interfereS
with his shotmaking.
I'm not ready for the tourna-
ment. but if this doesn't get any
worse I'll start" Sam said after
playing a practice round yester-
day.
1T isn't so bad when I'm on
the practice tee.' he said, "but
when I get out on the course
where I cool off and stiffen up
between shots I never know
what I'm going to do on the next
shot"
BY contrast Hogan, who re-
Gently said he didn't see how he
could win again this week, was
almost optimistic.
I'm about over that virus, 4"
he said. II still go to the doctor
every day and I spend q lot Of
time in bed resting, but I feel
pretty well
Ben played only about two
hours yesterday. "just hitting
shots" and didn't keep score.
Most Of the younger play
ers that Farrell praised were
finding that there's nothing easy
about Baltusrol's 7,027-yard. par
34-36-70 course. The consensus
is that it will be a tough but
fair" test of golf.
That was Farrell'S analysis and
it was echoed by such young
players as Billy Joe Patton, Gene
Litter, AL Mengert and Sam
Urzetta after yesterdays rounds.