Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
|UsGA,seeks
Curb Pros
|Prize-SpIittinu

CHlCAGO, Jan. 20 M The
United States Golf Association.
at its annual meeting, acted
today to prevent "prize- split
ting" by pros In Its two Ma
tional Open tournaments.
Probably hitting at a re-
ported pot-splitting Of the big
$4,000 first prize In last years
world" tourney at Chicago's
Tam O'shanter. the USGA
adopted this rule:
"A new condition Of entry
into the Open and the Wom-
ems Open championships will
require professionals TO certify
that they have not entered into
and viii not enter into any
arrangement whereby any COM
petitor could have q financial
interest In any other competi-
tors prize money"
Although this practice has
not been mentioned In connec-
ton with the National Open.
which carries more prestige
than cash. the new rule pre-
sumably stemmed from Dick
Mayors rich victory In the
World" meet at Tam. Mayer
Ii the 1887 Open champion.
Mayer Incident Cited
After the World" Mayors
wife told q reporter that her
husband had agreed to pay Al
Besselink 5000 from his purse.
II he won. Had Besselink won.
he would have paid Mayer
IS, 900.
Splitting first and second
money--in playoffs--is regard
ed q common practice for tour
nament titles for obvious eco
nomical reasons.
Also the practice Is known
to exist whereby partners"
gree-before a meet--to split
top money.
George s. May. promoter Of
the Tam O'Shanter Journeys.
attend the USdAHsession and
his immediate commment TO
the new rule was this won't
stop the practice"
There was no penalty men,
toned In connection with the
rule. but the inference was that
any guilty parties would not
be welcome in future open
Journeys.
Aimed at 1858 Open
The new rule may have been
aimed ct removing any pot
splitting temptations at the
1888 National Open which will
carry q record $4,000 prize
list. including 5000 for first
place. The open viii be played
June i2-iS-i4 at Southern Hills
Country Club. Tulsa. Okla.
There has been no reported
instance Of prize-splitting
among the lesser rewarded
women pros. who this year will
shoot for $1,000. including top
money Of sl,s00-the same as
last year-in the open at For
est Lake Country Club. Bloom
field Hills. Mich.
At the annual meeting. some
$50 delegates also approved a
handicap system for women
based on the new handicapping
Of men players.
The USGA women's competi-
tons In 1888 must be computed
under the new formula. based
on the 10 best Of the last IS
scores. and the women's course
rating methods used previously.
Miss Curtis Gets Award
The USGA's Bob Jones
award for golf sportsmanship
this year was won by Miss Mar
garet Curtis Of Boston. who
with her sister. Harriet, do
mated the Curtis Cup for wom-
ems competition between the
United States and England.
Miss Curtis. who was not
present to accept the award.
this year will begin her 65th
year Of golf. Playing since she
was 9. Miss Curtis was in her
first national tourney in 1897
and two years ago won q club
tourney.
John D. Ames Of Chicago
was elected USGA president for
1858. succeeding Richard s.
Tufts Of Pinehurst, N. c. The
next annual meeting win be
held at New York. January 81.
1859.
Joseph c. Dey. executive d.
rector. said the USGA would
concentrate on enforcing its
rule against slow play this year.
He said the USGA rules COM
mittee would meet with the
Royal g. Ancient British rules
maxine body at Scotland in
May, 1859. during the Walker
Cup matches to discuss pos
sible rules "refinements."