A Master at Last

When the wind blows, tournament golfers say, the men are separated from the boys. By that yardstick, Samuel Jackson Snead was a man. His booming drives and classic swing always drew a large and enthusiastic gallery. Where Sam usually died was on the greens. But in the Masters Tournament at Augusta last week, even Sam Snead was blown askew by winds. He took a one-over-par 73 the first day, a 75 the second.

Then the wind died. On the third day, the word spread that Slammin' Sam was hot. He got a 67, which moved him up to within one stroke of the lead. On the fourth and final day, a record gallery followed him from the first tee. On every slick green they waited for him to skid. But Sam putted like a master.

He was using a putter borrowed from Ben Hogan, who was still convalescing from a near-fatal auto crash. On the last green Sam eyed a tricky, 20-foot putt, then stepped up and tapped the ball with Hogan's putter. It rolled straight.and true for a birdie, a 67 for the round, 282 for the tournament. Said Sammy: "Who was the bum that started the story about I can't putt?" At 36, after ten tries, Sam Snead had finally won a Masters. It was his third tournament victory in a month.

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