Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-07
MASTERS
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has played only three tourna-
ments in 1855. He still weighs
only 1877 but likes it that way.
He says he is hitting the ball
nicely, thinking sharply, and be-
heves he can win.
Bolt still is grumbling about
other guys holing 40-foot puts
while he never makes anything
over a GIMME, but he had six
brides yesterday and says ne
feels stronger than he has in
months. If he can keep his
head. he can challenge. He's a
great driver and that's mighty
big factor here.
The defending champion never
has won here, but it's slightly
ridiculous to say Snead can't re-
peat just because it's never been
done before. He and Hogan still
are the top choices of the odds
makers, with Souchak having
won the ballot of the pros.
Hogan Long Idle
With the exception Of the year
of his accident, Hogan never be-
fore has stayed out of compete
ton as long.
The National Open last June
was his last competitive start,
but at the age of AZ that may
not bother him.
However there is less pre-
Hogan sentiment this year than
in many Masters, considering he
has won two and been runnerup
three times. AS usual he stayed
off the golf course the day before
the tournament. combining his
work to the practice tee.
Souchak's final practice round
for his first Masters was made;
in the company of Claude Har-
mon, the former Masters cham
pion who has a virtual stable Of
young pros coming up.
Souchak, who m his squeaky
voice calls Harmon 'Proie," vir-
tually was taken on a tour Of the
course. Harmon was clubbing
him, telling him where to and
where not to hit the shots and
lining up the puts. On his own,
Souchak was hitting the ball like
q million dollars.
Burke Playing Poorly
Harmon and Souchak made a
few dollars on the tour of the
course, tossing a s. under par
best ball on the back nine
against Jack Burke and Shelley
Mayfield, two more Harmon pro-
teges. Until he birdied the last
two holes, Burke was playing
about as poorly as he can play
and he says there's no end in
sight. If he wins here it will be
the biggest comeback.
Littler, the No. 2 money win
ner. is not commanding too much
attention. He started fast on the
1855 tour but has slumped the
last month and this hardly is
the course to end slump.
NOTES - Lew Worsham, who
has hit some of the high spots Of
his career against Snead, beat
him again yesterday in practice
round. Worsham had IL one-putt
greens, holing everything in
sight, and he had Snead talking
to himself. Worsham and Dick
Mayer beat Snead and Chandler
Harper in a four-ball match. !.
Harper is playing so poorly he
says he will be on the way home
tomorrow night.
A confidante of President Eli
senhower said the President
would give his right arm to see
this tournament, but the security
guard never gives him any en-
couragement. He will be here
Tuesday for nine days at his
cabin, which is a few yards from
the 10th tee. :. Col. Tom Belshe,
chairman Of the greens commit
tee at Burning Tree and chair
man of the press committee here,
helped Snead with several shots
as they won an informal pro-
member the other day.
Billy Joe Patton, who took the
play from Snead and Hogan
here last year. repeatedly is
taking his golf seriously. He has
quit smoking and given up oc-
casional glass of beer and has
added pushups. Z. Bolt now is
using the clubs put out by Har-
per's company. Snead's tee
shot on the 18th hole hit a
spectator on the head, but after
learning the fan had been cared
for, Snead didn't go near him.
1t wasn't a lack of sympathy,
but Sam said he's seen too many
people hit by golf balls and 1t
disturbs him. He promptly hit
his next shot feet from the pin.
Yesterday was Gene Sarazen
Day here and they dedicated a
bridge on the 18th hole, where
ne made his famous double eagle,
in his honor.