Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-31
SPOTLIGHT
ON
SPORTS
More Characters, Less Conduct
BY MERRILL WHlTTLfSEY

WHEN SAM SNEAD was In New York TO receive the
Metropolitan Golf Writers Gold Tee award the other
night. he did little teeing on Of his own.
Sam said the pro golf tour has been robbed Of its
ndviduasm by too many rules regulations that
1t needs more characters and fewer good conduct medals
He also said he thought the Ryder Cup team should be
and that In awarding the vardon Trophy for
low scoring there should be more stress what
ments fellow plays in. and not how many,
Wen buy Sans beefs right down the line.
NOT THAT THE PROS should be profane irrespon-
sble cubthrowine pickup artists but OF the fines
are q bit absurd.
As Snead pointed out practice putt might bring
$50 ne little polite profanity SIS $780, and breaking
club could cost $780, Sam didn't get around to mention
ing picking up but Bill Hanger. Howard Caps. Harold
McSpaden Ralph Arnold. Shelley Mayfeld Ed Hogan and
Jimmy Hines all fined 500 each two weeks ago for
falling to turn in cards in the Crosby tournament.
you not only have TO worry about hitting the ball.
but have to watch your Ps and Qs In conduct Sam
said ITS good thing they don't have lip readers-rd
60 broke"
When snead referred to pro golf as an attendance
contest he undoubtedly making reference to the
TIT plan, in effect this year.
ThN rather involved plan that costs tournament
sponsors 1900 It supposed to guarantee them the
players previous season. plus better conduct on the
part Of all contestants.
DOUG FORD WAS the top in TIT points last year
and he gets $500 every time he shows up in a PGA-
The awarding Of points positions in tournaments
beginning with IS points for the winner "A second
place 43 for third through point fors45th place You
also win TIT points for entering tournament two weeks
In advance and points taken away for throwing clubs
abusive language and Withdrawing.
Walter Hagen probably would have owed points under
this system merely for his habltual hardness.
Sam advocates hand-picked Ryder Cup team. and
that's the way IT should BE- They should have started
with Snead Ben Hogan. Jimmy Demaret and Cary Middle
coh last year. and added six more
The Ryder Cup team that lost to the British made
up of players who had accumulated the most points
for finishing high in tournaments twoyea period
Snead, Hogan. Demaret and Middlecon didn't make IL
because they pick their spots But how about their
records? - - -
IT BROUGHT TO MIND an experience at a football
game in Durham. N. C.. last fall. the final day OF the
Ryder Cup matches
top pro golfers Of the year visited press
box at Duke and somebody told him the United States
Ryder Cup team lost "Hooray. that's great" the pro
yelled fngng his program the the press
The vardon Trophy for the low scoring average also
has its attendance stipulation player must play 90
rounds TO qualify.
Masters PGA, National Open Tam oShanter, Western,
etc. But my average doesn't count" Sam complained.
"A player who makes the tournaments the courses
can come up with very low average"
For the record Sneads average so SO for SO rounds
Dow Fnerwad the vardon Trophy with 10 80 1903
rounds Finsterwald makes all the stops.
MARTIN AGRoNsKY MIGHT have had Sans views on
Look Here last Sunday afternoon when he interviewed
Snead for half-hour teevision from Sans winter
club at Boca Raton Fla
But Agronsky doing too much of the talking, and
not enough listening. We liked the line where Snead
trying describe his eight the last hole at Spring
Mil In 1885, the eight that cost him the National Open
He trying tell about IT, but Agronsky kept butng In
Sam described his emotions on the last tee, and how
the marhals finally cleared the farway and he nervousy
teed the ball and hooked his drive into the rough How
many did you lie them? Agronsky asked.
Sam looked puzzled. but he had the answer. "one,"
he replied.