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Show I Sneaking of Sport? 'Laughing Boy' Most Colorful Links Menace By ROBERT McSIIANE (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) JIMMY DEMARET, "Laughing Boy" of the links and champion of the masters, is the hottest thing in golf today. His victory in the recent Masters' tournament at Augusta. Ga made him winner in 6 of the 11 major tournaments in which he played on the winter circuit. He was out of the money in only three. This in-credible in-credible streak is an achievement comparable to a ball player pitching pitch-ing two consecutive no-hit, no-run games or a track star running the 100-yard dash in nine seconds. The greatest victory of these was in the Masters'. Jimmy won it the hard way. He was a sick golfer when play started in his semi-final round, and even considered withdrawing with-drawing from the tournament. After a half hour's delay he went out to win. Demaret, the pride and joy of Houston, Texas, is more than a championship golfer. He's a shot in the arm to every tournament he enters. He has ability, courage, JIMMY DEMARET calmness under fire and all the other attributes needed to win top honors. His power to relax, even while the going is toughest, continues con-tinues to amaze onlookers and opponents op-ponents alike. That Friendly Grin As colorful as a painting by Raphael, Jimmy has a smile of Grand canyon proportions, a tremendous tre-mendous flair for making friends, and the happy-go-lucky attitude of a nigger crapshooter. He is endeared en-deared to every golfing gallery that follows him. When he cuts loose with one of those ear-to-car grins after executing a good shot he makes a friend out of every fan within viewing distance. His golf isn't particularly spectacular. spectac-ular. He doesn't belt out terrific drives, nor does he can every putt with a wizard's touch. He is, however, how-ever, amazingly accurate. He hits every shot with the utmost in natural nat-ural ease and grace. He combines the knack of relaxing with the ability abil-ity to concentrate through 72 holes of the toughest kind of golf. Goodall Test Next His woods are played with a swing as smooth as a lullaby. He is one of the best of the iron players, and is especially good around the greens. Because of his always well-oiled well-oiled performance, Jimmy has been called the present day's nearest near-est approach to the "old masters" Jones, Hagan and Sarazcn. The 29-year-old Texas pro is expected ex-pected to make a strong bid for the annual $5,000 Goodall round robin tournament in May at Flushing, Long Island. Fifteen top pros meet for this, event, which is generally agreed to be one of the stiffest tests of the entire year. Following that will come the National Open, to be held at Cleveland in June. Jimmy is looked upon as the contender to beat for the National Open title. In other words, "Laughing Boy" is going to be very busy this summer. sum-mer. At present he is at his home club in Houston, but starting in May he'll be hitting the tournament trail for all he's worth. Battle Royal Seen Ben Hogan, another Texan who headquarters at White Plains, N. Y., will offer serious competition in the Goodall meet This tournament will mark the opening of a battle between be-tween Demaret and Hogan for pro-golf pro-golf leadership. Hogan got searing hot and won the North and South and the Greensboro and Ashville opens in succession, with the exceptional excep-tional score of 34 under par for 216 holes. The Flushing tourney will place the two sensational Texans on a man-to-man basis for the first time this year. They will be compelled to meet in a hand-to-hand encounter for 18 holes. Undisputed king of the winter tour, Jimmy won $7,653 to lead the money winners. Back of him, according ac-cording to P. G. A. figures, rank Ben Hogan with $G,538 Byron Nelson, Nel-son, $4,513; Craig Wood, $3,608; Lloyd Mangrum, $3,350; Sam Snead, $2,906; Lawson Little, $2,817; Clayton Clay-ton Haefner, $2,706; Harold Mc-Spaden, Mc-Spaden, $2,501; Ralph Guidahl, $2,400; and Paul Runyan, $-.300. Demaret also leads in the Vardon trophy race with 267 points Hogan is second with 215, followed by W ood with 141, Nelson with 133, and Snead with 113 points. |