Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-07

Open hasn't broken into an Of
But before the breach in
chasm, it might be worthwhile
for both sides to examine their
positions more critically.
Discussions with pros and
MSGA executives last week has
led to the belief that both
sides are losing touch with
something basic. In the case of
the MSGA it Is the spirit of
amateurism. In the case Of the
pros it Is the spirit Of golf as q
game.
To review briefly, the MSGA
has decreed a 10-place prize list
for the Open tomorrow and
Tuesday at Suburban Club in
Baltimore. It makes no differ
ence II the top 10 are pros or
amateurs. only 10 places will
be rewarded.
theoretically, this m e a n S
that II all the 10 low scorers
are amateurs, the pros will be
cut off without a cent. OF
course the amount of money
involved Is not Of staggering
proportions, roughly 81 500, but
II there's q buck to be made,
the pros want it.
Under the code of amateur
ism defined by the United
States Golf Association, an
amateur may receive merchan-
disc with q retail value up to
$500 without jeopardizing his
amateur standing. The MSGA
seems determined that anna
teurs will be rewarded to the
legal limit, but although this
Is within the law, is 1t within
the spirit2
Aren't the amateurs then
playing not for glory but for
more mundane rewards2 II
would seem here that If ar
amateur enters the Open fol
the express purpose Of winning
as much merchandise as the
USGA code allows, his amateur
standing should then be for
feited. He is playing for money
and should declare himself a
professional.
It was interesting to listen
to one professional who is not
playing In the Open, not in
protest but simply because he
doesn't very often anyway.
He pointed out that there
are at least three amateurs in
the area good enough to finish
among the top 10. Therefore,
his undiSputable logic con-
cludes, the pros are playing for
only seven places In the money
list.
Perhaps it's naive, but 1t has
always been the belief here
that anyone In the Open should
enter with the purpose Of beat
ing everybody else. If this is
not the spirit Of competition,
then neither is trying to make
expenses, although it will not
be denied that they can be
considerable.
Were in 1t for the money"
Bill Clarke, the ex-president of
the Middle Atlantic Pea, said
last week. But II Clarke re-
ferred to the Maryland Open
In making this remark, his be-
lief must be contested.
For one thing, even q pro
who won every pro-amateur
during the season would run
into financial difficulty. There
Just isn't that much money at
stake.
The Maryland Open is q
tournament played for one pur-
pose-to decide the champion
ship. The ordinary club pro,
who is, after all, the one who
plays in the Maryland Open,
makes his living in his shop
1t often has been said that
the winner of the National
Open earns more money from
endorsements and exhibitions
than he does from the prize
list and this probably holds
true for the Maryland Open,
This is the pros chance to adj
vertise themselves.
Tournament winnings can't
be much more than incidental
earnings TO most Of them. II
1t is, then the pro tour is the
place for him.
EA&
NOTES-Jack Emich. secre-
tary Of the Maryland State
Golf Association, is considering
o trip to Atlanta in the fall to
observe the Ryder Cup
matches. Emich's club. the
Baltimore Country Club. Is host
to the Walker Cup matches in
volving amateur teams from
the United States and Great
Britain In 1865 Jack AL
fandre, chairman Of the admis-
sions committee for the 1854
National Open at Congress
sional, has announced two
season tickets plans. The first
including clubhouse privileges,
is scaled at SIS and the second
for the grounds only costs SIS.
After December 81 the SIS tic
ket will cost $40 and the SIS
ticket will cost SIT -. Entries
to the MSGA scratch pro-
amateur tournament scheduled
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