Evening star., 1961-07-16

BIRKDALE, England, July
is (AP) Arnold Palmer won
the British Open golf champi-
onShip by a single stroke today
with one of his patented late
Surges and became the first
American. to win the coveted
title since the immortal Ben
Hogan did it in 1858.
Palmer started the rain
splattered day one stroke off
the pace. Then came one of
his dramatic charges. He
blazed over the soggy front
nine of the Birkdale course,
where par is 36-36-72, in 80.
That carried him to a third
round SO which put him out
in front. A comfortable par
70 on the fourth round brought
him the title.
His card for the four rounds
read 70-73-69-72-2S4. That
is four under par, remarkable
under the miserable weather
conditions that prevailed.
The weatherman co-operated
Wednesday but Thursday heavy
rains and terrific winds did
thousands of dollars worth of
damage to the course and club
house and wrecked the scores
of some Of the worlds best
golfers.
Heroic Effort
Yesterdays play had to be
postponed because of the rains
and today's Shower-spotted pro-
gram saw workmen with buck
cts and blankets, which were
used as blotters, stationed at
every green.
Dai Rees Of Wales, captain
Of the British Ryder Cup team.
shot 71-72 today and finished
with 285, just one stroke be-
hind Palmer. That was the
same margin by which Palmer
failed to win the crown a year
ago in his first try.
Rees, playing in the twosome
behind Palmer, knew as he
stepped up to the 18th tee that
he needed an eagle two to tie
the soft-spoken American. He
made an heroic effort, but his
second shot halted IL feet from
the flag. He sank it for a birdie.
Paul Runyan Of La Jolla,
Calf, the recently-crowned
Senior champion of Great
Britain and the United States,
was the only other American
in the 48-man field. He had
1872 for a 299.
COnquers Jinx
Not only did Palmer have to
stave off the charges of his
rivals and the miserable
weather conditions, but he had
to conquer a jinx on the 18th
hole.
In the second round he was
awarded a penalty stroke and
took a seven there. In the third
he had to play one Of the shots
of his life to salvage a par five
and in the last round he strug-
gled to another five after top
ping his second shot.
"One day I would like to
play that hole well," he told
well-wishers after receiving the
trophy. II don't know how to
do it now."
Christy O'Connor, the game
Irishman. shot q 81 in the
third round today and finished
with a share Of third place
with Neil Coles Of England.
O'Connor had 71-77-67-73-|
288 and Coles 70-77-69-72-I
288.
Eric Brown Of Scotland
carded 73-76-70-70-289, and
defending champion Kel Nagle
Of Australia finished with 6S-
75-75-71-289.
Gary Player, the South Afri-
can who deposed Palmer in the
1861 Masters tourney, had to
withdraw after five holes in
the third round because of a
stomach ailment.
While the British Open title
is one Of the most cherished in
all golf, the prize money is on
the meager side. Palmer's VIC
tory in the 101st playing of the
tournament was worth only
$500. Rees received $4,000.
Palmer looked like the victor
on the 517-yard 14th in the
last round. He got a birdie 4
on the tricky hole that bends
to the right with the green on
a plateau.
The American had a difficult
8-footer to sink there after
being short Of the green in two.
He examined the putt with the
care of a surgeon. Then he
stroked it in smoothly and
easily.
THAT was the turning point"