Evening star., 1961-04-11

Other Stories and Picture. Poae Az:
pion, the strong-armed, steel
nerved Pennsylvania with the
patented heroics on the last
round. came to the last hole at
Augusta National needing four
to win or five to tie. He took
six.
Player. who had stumbled
through the last nine in 40-it
would have been higher except
for one putt green's - was
watching on television in Cliff
Roberts cottage as Palmer
botched up on the 18th hole.
Victory Worth $4,000
Just 30 minutes before
Palmer finished, a somewhat
Respondent Player had blasted
from the same trap that Palm
er caught to within 6 feet OF
the pin. He knocked in the
putt for a IA and his 280 thai
in half an hour was to be
worth $4,000, plus a $4,000
bonus from his clubmakers,
Palmer didn't even have
second place to himself, al.
though he won the $4,000 run
nerup prize of the $99, 500 purse
for his 71-281. Charlie Coe, the
I37-year-old amateur from
Oklahoma. birdied three
straight holes on the nine, ano
finished with SO for 281.
The finish was doubly unbe-
lievable because Palmer, who
finished birdie-birdie last yeal
to snatch what appeared to be
certain victory from Ken Ven
turi, had made up his four
stroke deficit midway on the
back nine. Player started the
day at 206, Palmer at 210.
ShOtmaking Superb
When Player posted a seven
and a six on the par fives on
the back nine that are virtual
ly conceded brides for a player
of his length off the tee, Palm
er led by stroke at his posi-
ton on the course.
And while Player scrambled
for parS on II and 18, Palmer
was bidding for brides on every
hole from 13 through II. His
shotmaking was superb, his
putting very ordinary.
But pars were sufficient for
Armies Army" a noisy, un-
comfortable gallery of thou
sands, who trampled after
Palmer with outspoken adora-
ton.
The 18th is an uphill, dog
leg par four on which the green
is an inviting target because
it always is surrounded by
thousands Of spectators. Palm
er tore off a perfect drive, CIV
ing it slight body English for
position.
Shot Stuns Everybody
He had only a 7-iron shot to
the green, the same club he
used last year in setting up the
birdie that beat Ventura. From
the look on Players face as the
televiSion cameras flashed to
him, he, like almost everybody
else, had conceded the victory
But Palmer pushed the Sec
ond shot to the right trap. Now
a tie was possible, but not
probable, as Arnie had played
some masterful trap shots, sell
dom needing more than two to
get down.
The shot he played stunned
everybody, Palmer most of all
For a man who had been play
ing a delicate, fluff shot from
this sand, he tore into it
caught the ball too clean, and
it flew over the green and
through the ducking gallery.
That wasn't even Palmer's
swing" said one of the tor
pros who watched it. Lets
face it," another said, Palmer
is only human. He gassed it
1t has happened to other peo-
pie"
There was anguish on Palm
er's face, and suddenly no.
ticeable perspiration on his
brow, this on a day that was
chilly from the beginning, and
had turned colder towards eve
ming, despite a bright sun.
Impossible Shot
The shot he had left was i'm
possible. His ball had rolled
over steep hump, and the pin
was close to the corner of the
green. He studied it carefully,
but never had a chance. He
rolled the ball Is feet past and
missed the putt. 1t wasn't close,