Posted 4/14/03 9:57 am ET

Amazing Amateurs - E. Harvie Ward

Final-round bogeys spoil shot at jacket

After the 1957 Masters, E. Harvie Ward was banned from amateur golf for a year amid questions about his amateur status, but he played in 10 Masters Tournaments from 1948-1958, finishing in the top 24 four times. Special/The Augusta Chronicle

By Chris Gay
The Augusta Chronicle

He had won two U.S. Amateur tournaments, but E. Harvie Ward Jr. heard through the grapevine that he couldn't win professional events.

At the 1957 Masters Tournament, however, the 30-year-old automobile salesman from San Francisco found himself in contention after 54 holes. Rounds of 73-71-71 put Ward one shot behind leader Sam Snead.

``I had proven that I could beat the amateurs,'' the 75-year-old Ward said from his Pinehurst, N.C., home. ``I know there was some question of whether I could play professional golf.''

Ward was paired with Doug Ford in the final round. Ford trailed Snead by three shots after 54 holes but soon made up ground. The 34-year-old Ford from New Haven, Conn., went out in 2-under-par.

Ward shot a 1-over 37 on the front, and his Masters hopes faded with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12. Meanwhile, Ford was on fire on the back side with birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15.

On the par-4 18th, Ford's approach shot found the bunker in front of the green.

``He came over to me and said, `If I make six, I lose; If I make five, I tie; and if I make four, I win,''' Ward said.

Ford didn't consider a three. He blasted out of the sand for birdie to cap a final-round 66 and win the tournament by three shots.

``My fondest memory is of Doug winning,'' said Ward, who won the 1952 British Amateur and 1954 Canadian Amateur. ``He played so good, he deserved to win.''

At the '57 Masters, some people questioned Ward's amateur status because he accepted expense money from the car dealership where he worked. After the Masters Tournament, he was banned for one year from amateur golf.

``Everybody knows about it,'' he said. ``It's not something that's old hat. After I was banned, I kind of let my game go to hell. I never really got my game back after that.''

Ward retired from the car dealership in 1970. He stayed on the golf scene and worked for years with Payne Stewart. Before the final round of the 1999 U.S. Open, Ward watched Stewart hit a big hook on the driving range.

``I walked up, and I said, `I never taught you to do that,''' Ward said. ``He turned around and laughed.''

Today, Ward teaches at a private club in Pinehurst where he is a member. He plays golf about once a week and says he has a 4 handicap.

Ward played in 10 Masters Tournaments from 1948-58, missing only the '49 tournament. He finished in the top 24 four times.

As for amateurs contending for Masters titles, Ward says the era is over but doesn't rule it out entirely.

``If Tiger would've stayed an amateur, he would've won it,'' Ward said. ``It could happen. Let's don't say it's never going to happen. Somebody like Tiger could come along and win the Masters a couple of times. I probably won't see it in my lifetime, but I'm not saying it can't happen.

``The thing today is, you're not going to have young amateurs staying amateur because there's so much money. Can you think of a better way to make a living than going out and playing golf every day and getting paid for it?''

Ward at the Masters
Year	Place	Score
1948	tie 51st	78-78-81-79-316
1950	tie 35th	79-78-74-74-305
1951	tie 35th	74-77-77-74-302
1952	tie 21st	72-71-78-78-299
1953	tie 14th	73-74-69-75-291
1954	tie 20th	78-75-74-71-298
1955	tie eighth	77-69-75-71-292
1956	tie 34th	76-70-81-78-305
1957	fourth	73-71-71-73-288
1958	missed cut	76-76-152
1966	missed cut	81-84-165

 

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