Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-09
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCE, ,7Apu
The Best Is MiddIecoff

TED knoll, STOCKY, plodding shot maker out of
Fort Lauderdale Fla, has by the PGA
only the top golfer of 1856 but his $72
in prices represents the biggest haul in single year
Lest Kro be mistaken for the best golfer, however,
give thought to Cary Mddecof. who is. The onetime
deStlst from Memphis slender round guy with
the beginnings of pot belly the golfer who the
least strokes He shot Sc tournament rounds and
1885 which enough to make normal golfer throw
his clubs
1t could be that if Knoll is moderated Middleton is
Not Ben Hogan Sam Snead but Middle
co has been the wnningest American golfer the
five years Take the top 10 winners from 1926
based on 10 points for first place. etc. and Cary is in
class by himself He gets 81 points against the "a each
for Doug Ford, Knoll and Julius Boros who tied
second
Snead? He's No. on the list Hogan isn't among
the first dozen.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER ways for crack pro golfer,
against the hot dog variety to pick up buck Endorse
ments for example plus exhibition they hardly
ever find necessary to pick up dinner check But Just
based on purses alone Mddecof and Knoll and few others
do all right
Carys leanest year in the last 1854 when he
only 1854 His best was $50 SGT in 1855 In all Middle
cof won $l34845 in purses $3.50 Even with
last years record wndfa it beats Kos sl336O the
same fve-year period.
AS of livelihood golf is no pushover You've
got to be top saving that one extra stroke round
in order to eat we'll Otherwise, the pros put it, you're
hot dog golfer That's what eat standing up, and
when you sleep it's in trailer cabin
your stomach rumDleS and the top caddleS look the
other way because they know you can't afford big tip
You draw bad playing times and Objectionable partners
easy for hot dog hreesomes get course that
is crawling with 10000 people.
THE IRONY is THAT knoll scarcely known by other
than the golfng fraternity should nearly $4,000 in
single year. This is far than Yogi makes
than the brightest stars in pro football fighters gross
more in year.
1t is odd that in sport that is susceptible it. golf
today offers so little color Every while Mddecof
snaps at officials for what he considers bad starting times
but aside from hamming it up the putting green's with
body English" poses, Cary hasn't much color.
kro has less He plodder dedicated to saving strokes
and words Ford is dead fish and Dow Fnster-
valid hardly is the gofng writer's dream boat nor
Fred Hawkins
In short, there Bobby JoneseS Walter Hagens
and Gene Sarazens the today Tommy Armour
for that matter These businessmen g hard faced
and hell bent for that dollar
TRUE HOGAN is BOX OFFICE. This is because he is a
legend He is the little guy who grievousy in
traffic accident yet lived to rise to his greatest riumphs
His head fguratvely is transparent spectator
the wheels OF concentration whrrng
The hilbilly Snead always has been colorfu But like
Hogan he's just about had it, SO has Lloyd Mangrum who
has certain racy swagger about him. the younger
element there are not many who qualify as to color.
jackie Burke Jr, has cocky manner the fresh faced
perennial YOUTH and is perhaps coorfu any, Tommy
Bolt you want to count him. throws clubs and tantrums
but he more apt to be considered chury and childish
There just isn't much box office to the golfers today
and the good ones never had good at the pay window