|
Nelson Cards 69 to Beat Ben Hogan in Masters' Play-Off
Hogan Loses Classic Title By One Stroke
Toledo Pro Wins Tournament for Second Time
By Tom Wall
Chronicle Sports Editor
Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 14, 1942 -- ``Except for the first hole (where he took a six) I think that was the finest round of golf I ever shot.''
Slender Byron Nelson, of Toledo, was acknowledging the congratulations of Horton Smith, of Pinehurst, N.C., a few minutes after the Buckeye boy had fashioned a three-under 69 to humble Ben Hogan, of Hershey, Pa., by one stroke in the 18-hole playoff for the for the championship of the ninth Masters tournament and his second victory in the golf classic. Smith is the only other two-time winner of the coveted Augusta crown. ``It easily could have been a 66 or 67,'' Byron continued, pointing out that he ran down only two exceptionally long putts all afternoon, and that his missed tee shot to the first green was responsible for a two-stroke deficit as he strode to the second tee.
4,000 IN GALLERY
Fully 4,000 spectators saw the two seasoned veterans make the turn with Nelson leading one up.
NELSON, HOGAN CARDS
AUGUSTA, Ga., APRIL 13 (AP) Here are the cards of Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan in today's playoff for the Augusta Masters Golf championship:
Par out 454 343 454-36
Nelson out 644 442 434-35
Hogan out 444 344 454-36
Par in 443 545 344-36-72
Nelson in 432 445 345-34-69
Hogan in 533 434 444-34-70
The blond Ohioan quickly widened the margin to three strokes going to 13 only to have Hogan bag three birdies on the next two holes as the Hershey entry strove valiantly to square the match.
But the bronze-browed ex-Texan was guilty of underclubbing his spade shot to the par three 16th, the ball coming to rest just inside the trap and affording Nelson the advantage he was looking for, although Byron needed two putts after dropping his iron shot less than two feet from the cup. Hogan required a four and went two down again. Each collected his par four at the 17th, but Nelson required a five at the home green before he could put his second Augusta National championship in the bag. He triumphed in 1937 with a 72-hole total of 283.
$1,500 VICTORY
The victory was worth $1,500 to Nelson and $800 to Hogan, whose achievement of erasing an eight-stroke deficit after the second day of the 1942 renewal to gain a tie with 280 total will remain one of the big points of the classic.
Nelson's poor tee shot to the first green caused considerable unrest among his supporters as the ball came to rest under a small pine tree and presented an almost unplayable lie. He was forced to hit a weak iron shot lefthanded and his next shot went past. He chipped up and followed with two putts as Hogan got down in a par four.
Both boomed tremendous tee shots to the long second and followed with equally brilliant seconds to pave the way for their birdie fours. Hogan had to work hard to protect his margin at the third green. His tee shot was trapped, but a brilliant loft carried and he was down in two putts. Nelson had sent a sensational second with plenty of backspin to within three feet of the cup, but two-putted.
NELSON 3 DOWN
Nelson was three strokes down after his tee shot to the short fourth became embedded in the sand, setting the stage for a four while Hogan was cupping out in three. They each got a birdie at the long fifth with nothing exciting happening.
At the sixth, however, Byron stuck his iron shot to within seven feet and canned the putt for a birdie two to pick up one stroke. They got orthodox fours at the 7th, but the eighth had something spectacular to offer when Nelson fired a brilliant wood second six feet away and canned the putt for an eagle three. Hogan's second had come to rest between two bunkers to the left of the green and he needed two putts despite his fine chip.
The banged in par fours at the ninth with Nelson turning in the ninth with Nelson turning in 34 and Hogan in 36, even par. Hogan's misfortune to turn his approach to the 10th green to the right and Nelson's feat of landing seven feet away produced another opportunity for the champion and he wasn't the one to overlook same as Hogan's uphill putt went hard past the cup. Nelson's tap stopped just short and he holed out in a standard four to Ben's five.
LONG PUTTS
Both ran down long putts at the 11th for birdie threes, thanks to two beautiful approaches. Hogan, however, spaded short to the 12th with the ball coming to rest on the side of the hill skirting the green. he sank his long putt for a par, but Nelson's second was some 18 inches away and he sacked the birdie to increase his lead to three up.
Tremendous tee shots to the dog-legged 13th placed both in a position to send iron seconds to the green and get their birdie fours.
Hogan used the 425-yard 14th to get his third birdie on the back nine and reduce Nelson's lead to two. Here the Vardon trophy winner ran down an 18-foot putt for a three while Nelson, his approach a bit short, had two putts for a four.
Both used iron seconds to gain the green at historic 15th, and Hogan followed with another birdie by chipping dead as Nelson three-putted and saw his advantage trimmed to a single stroke. But fate was to overhaul Hogan in the succeeding seconds. His iron to the short 16th plopped into the trap, and he had to use two putts after his blast fell way short. Nelson slashed a brilliant iron to within two feet of the cup and promptly missed the putt for a standard three.
NELSON UP AGAIN
Nelson was two up again as they trudged to the 17th and only a near miracle could prevent him from capturing the title. The pair slammed great tee shots, approached dead and got down in two putts apiece for the regulation fours. Their second shots to the home green fell into the sand at the left, Hogan's explosion enabling him to can his putt for a four while Nelson played for a safe five and the gold and glory reserved for the king.
The winner collected five birdies, an eagle and 10 pars while going over on only two holes. Hogan got six birdies and eight pars against four bogeys. For the five rounds, Nelson finished with a 349 total which was 11 strokes under par. Hogan's 90-hole total was 350.
Following the match, which was played under ideal weather conditions, Alfred S. Bourne, prominent member of the winter colony, presented checks to the winners, all of whom responded with brief words of acceptance. After he had collected the top prize and found a comfortable seat in the clubhouse, Nelson disclosed that he will leave shortly for Pinehurst where he will be the chief topic for a links picture for Pathe.
| 
