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SMILING GENE SARAZEN MONARCH OF U.S. GOL
SMASHED HIS SISTER'S BABY DOLLS ON KITCHEN
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Mether Sarazen Had te Werk Fast te
Prevent Severing of diplomatic Rela
tiens Between Sen and Margaret
When Her Playthings Were Used as
rassies and Niblicks
CHAMPION SHO T FAIRWA YS
Y WHEN BUT EIGHT YEARS OLD
WITH STICKS HE WHITTLED
His Rise Was Rapid and He Never
Allowed Reverses te Dim His Ambi
tions Today Pe rfu med Missives
Frem Belles of Country Shower Con
gratulations Upen Him
TjiROM dell babies te golf clubs!
- That In itself is no small step.
But when the transition is made in one dazzling leap te the American
cpen championship that is a matter wherein a nation may well marvel.
Hundreds of thousands of devotees of the ancient and honorable game
In this country today acknowledge as their" king a stripling of twenty-one
who has forced his Way from the obscurity of a humble immigrant's
sbede te the bright glare which beats Upen the most enviable title in
American golfdem.
' And in addition te this signal honor, he enjoys the distinction of
being tie first Latin te win his way te victory in this historic event, for
both parents of the new king of American golf were born almost within
the shadow of the Coliseum at Reme.
Te his proud mother it seems only yesterday that Gene Sarazen was
a laughing, chubby, olive-skinned little boy, playing with his sister en the
kitchen fleer and delighting in all the fancies And conceits which are the
heritage of childhood
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And new the sporting world is
agog ever the same lad who helped
his sister wash the dell dishes and
mind the "children."
Gene was bem February 27, 1901,
at Harrison' N. Y. His mother and
father came te America several
years before Gene was born. His
lister, Margarita, two years elder,
also was born in America.
As a litUe baby, Gene was no
different from ether babies. He
slept, kicked and crewed, according
te his mood or the time.
He was sent te the Harrison
Grammar Scheel and showed a gen
nine and active dislike for the con
fining walls of the schoolroom and a
decided tendency never te open a
book unless there was absolutely no
ether (alternative.
Has Played Gelf Since
Be Was Eight Years Old
Frem the time he was eight years
old he began playing golf. With a
sharp knife he would whittle away
at the branch of a tree until it began
te take the shape of a golf fitick.
And then with set jaws he would hit
anything in sight which would travel
like a ball.
And when he began his career as
caddy he would cut down discarded
clubs te fit his size, spend hours
peering around for balls which had
been lest, and then, with "real
tools," he would get off by himself
and play for hours. Despite the
fact that he was just a boy, he would
keep at it until his little arms were
tee tired te swing the sticks.
In the early spring, when in the
schoolroom, the outdoors called te
him through the windows and he
wriggled about, impatient for the
bell which would release him from
his trouble, for such he considered
school.
At the ace of ten he cuddled at the
Apawnmls Club at Rye, a place within
aey reach of his home. And then hi'
as in his element. Rending forward
under the weight of the leather bags and
L heavy irons, he Boomed net te notice
that they had any weight. With loving
fingers he would stroke the clubs nnd
if the owner would pnuse nt a hole for n
moment' Oene would swing the clubs.
"I'PPlng the grans ns be came through
with a fnirly clean stroke.
Summer vncatleu came nnd the
whoelhouso would temporarily leso lt
terror for him. With hands dug deep
into his trouser pockets, the same hands
h'lng an grubby ns he chose te have
tm with no interference from n
teacher, he'd Rtrell pnst that worthy
Mlfice, whistling n bright tune nnd in
rdly thanking IiIh dnrs that lie could
lk right by with Impunity nnd do de
lance. Me Old Swimming Hele
Was Popular With Gene
And the joys these days held for him !
i S. far away wa a Mvlmming hole,
"dwhat n spot it was! He and his
er weuM ramble ever the country -"Ve
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WneS. All Bnrte .. TO..-I i
. , " "' MjrilTiUUK IIIICCH
" "e explored, tree whose branches
3w ci!?.!!1? Bi,0,,ml wlth ,1,e weK'" of
p (eeted cherries. ,
Mannrnt M.m.i.i - . . .
smaller h.,i, : ,' " rac" w,t" 'cr
weh fniin,thcr ,0 trre nnd thre
ralne'i & n scr""b'e the cherries
nil, ''w"..en,ip''V,..Wn,,,. htU-kv
WenM . I" "' me rnnw e, tnev
water f"n imuiiu iiuu wie ccei
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huntln-. , V, i ' i ' n",t I,er,,,it of d'"1"
Mho l.nri ,,nm?,,,n,l P'ny home. Gene
'mllv w0 l", verI(lnK, ,,rr'11' "'' '
itrL m "" ".""' 1",mp ' btl fluttered
i 8B?S 'fe!." ."wife-': . With inaMiii
! talnf i ;' "Pwpulil fcubmlt te n
l of the treubfe in the household,
nnd would then be set te mind the dell
children.
That was n point which required deli
cate handling and mncb diplomatic no
tion en the part of Gene's mother. He
cause he would bold a dell ns if he
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tray fingers of dawn were just begin
ning te slip bnck the dark mantle of
night, his little body hunched up, hu
did silently nleng until be reached the
club. And there with discarded clubs
he went rtbeut the reun-e until the sttn,
getting higher In the sky, warned hint
that for that day he could play no
mere.
The caddies at ApaVnmls were given
n tournament, and Oene was mneng the
first te signify his rendtnesN te play.
One member of the club bet him that
he could net break 00. Confident of
his ability, Gene boasted that he could,
and was chagrined nnd mortified te find
tbnt he had done 105.
When he was about twelve years old
he foiled te rejarn home one evening.
Toe dork te be pbying golf, his parents
were worried. The morning brought no
signs of the son, nnd Mr. and Mrs.
Sarazen were tip bright and early In
quiring for him about the neighbor
hood. Left Heme Three Days
te Caddy for Weman
At the end of three dnys h came
home. Te the country club had come
a wealthy woman who lived en Leng
Island. Attracted by the bright face of
her caddy she told him te ask his mother
for permission te go home with her
for n few days te caddy for her at h
game. Almest sure that he would net
be given consent, Gene did net go home,
but left without consulting his family.
And when at the end of three days
he did return with n new Miit, talcs
of n wonderland into which he had been
given a peek, nnd displayed ten del-
Ihrs he bad wen, the mother could net
scold him te spoil his pleasure.
When he finished grammar school he
was taken Inte his fnther's shop te
learn te be a carpenter. But Gene had
ether plans than te be tied te n car
penter bench for the rest of his dnys.
Mr. Sarazen, deciding that busineH
in Hridgcpert, Conn., would be mere
lucrative, moved his small faintly te
new surroundings nnd the first thing
Gene did was te ilt the Broekliiwn
Country Club and offer bis services as
caddy.
Then he could devote his day te the
links. But net for long, because the
flu epidemic which swept the country,
extracting tell from the four corners,
brought its sinister presence Inte
Bridgeport. Se Gene laid aside his
sticks most of the day te assist the
Bed CreH nurses In the hospital.
When his services were no longer
required he joyfully took te his game
again, nnd se intent whh he, that
Geerge Sparling, a pre nt the Broeklown
Club, became interested in the boy.
Gene Often Was Caddy
for Sparling at Brooklawn
lie permitted Gene te caddy many
most casual nature. Tie spoke of the I
delightful people he was meeting, of
the country about him, of nnythlng
and everything but (lie fact tbnt he
was awakening interest in the sporting
world.
But the newspapers supplied that
which he emitted, and the little family
in Bridgeport would with feverish in
terest rend every word.
Became Assistant Pre
at Fert Wayne, Ind.
Gene was net satisfied te stay In the
Seuth, but wanted te strike out for
himself. While reading through a golf
tuugazlne one day he saw an adver
tisement for an assistant pre needed
ut the Fert Wayne, Ind., Country
Club. Hnmsey Hunter, brother of
Willie Hunter, winner of Inst year's
British nmatcur championship, was
professional at Fert Wayne nt the
time.
Gene answered the ndvertlementnnd
Impatiently nwaltcd the outcome. A
wire summoned him te Fert Wayne
and he packed his bag and started
West.
His ever-present geed humor and
willingness te help ethers, bis boyish
grin and excellent game wen for him
many friends among the members of
the club, and se they sent him te play
In the nntiennl open championship at
the Ivcrness Club, Teledo, in 1020.
The first day out he tied Jeck Hutch Hutch
ieon, and en returning te the club
house, told semu people that some dny
he'd "beat that guy." In these few
words there was an utter lack of flip
pancy, the remark was made In perfect
seriousness backed by the belief he had
in ills own ability. The tournament
did net end well for Gene and he ended
lit thirtieth place.
But naturally a 'friendly little fel
low, he wanted companionship, and
found it by a chnnce meeting with Emil
Loeffler, who was at the time green
keeper nt the Oakmont Country Club of
Pittsburgh. Kmil. or "Dutch," ns he
Is culled, who Is four years elder than
Gene, was waiting for the bus te take
lilrti te the course, when Gene came
along, also going te the club.
A conversation was started, a friend
ship ensued nnd Gene nnd I.ecfUer were
together for the remainder of the time.
Loeffler net only liked Gene, but real
ized that he played n geed gnme. Gene
wanted te stay in or around Pittsburgh,
where he could strengthen the friend
ship with "Dutch" and play with him.
Turned Down Position
as Pre at Fert Wayne
Se Loeffler premised te be en the
lookout for anything which would in
terest Gene. In the meantime the boy
returned te Fert Wayne. He was of
fered a position as pre there, but re-
The smile that won't come off
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take charge of the greens. He did se
Such Htii'cesti iik In 1 In plnun t
with the lending members, nnd whs
he was asked if he knew of someerw
te act ns professional, lie Immediately.
suggested Gene, nnd was told te bart); v
the boy come en for an exhibition. V
litis was done, n rourseine piayea .
and Gene showed forth te such excel-
lent advantage that Ije was offered i
ruiiirari, xiewcver, ne weuin net sign
If: until hA rutflrnurl trnm tilnvlntf Ife
the Professional Golfers' Association. Gi
championship which was held at tM
Inwood Country Club en Leng Islasd.
There he defeated Harry Hnmptea,
and also fulfilled the premise he mad
himself thnt some day he'd "beat that
guy" for he defeated Hutchisen.-
Back te Highland he went and with
bis nose te the grindstone he spent his ,
entire day at golf.
After Beating Hutchisen
He Lest te Cyril Walker
Shertl" after Sarazen defeated Hut Hut
chieon, he in turn was defeated by
Cyril Walker by a score of 4 nnd 8,
Then It was that the onlookers were
sure thnt It was mere chance than skill
which gave him the victory ever Hutch Hutch
ieon. Having burst Inte popularity he re
ceived offers from ether clubs, but con
sidering carefully the one at Highland,
he decided It was the best mid se he
signed the contract. Fer there was
his friend Loeffler, and also W. O.
Fownes, Jr., once national champion,
and Gene realized that by playing with
these two he could learn much te bis
advantage.
Last winter he played and wen a
tournament nt New Orleans, which was
up te that time quite the biggest event
In his career. The" players were high
In the golf world, nnd he defeated such
men ns Jim Barnes, Hutchisen and
every ether golfer of note, with the
exception of Wnlter Hagen.
And then Gene went te Pittsburgh,
where he put in a spring of constant
practice, satisfied In his mind that he
could enter against the biggest.
And then he went te Skekle te try i
the course. Fer three weeks he played
around, making careful calculations and
finding out what shots he would have te
practice. Satisfied In bis mind that he
was te be the winner, he would net take
n chance en the course, and that is why
he allowed himself se much time. He
even figured out In his mind nbeut hew
some of the ether men playing would
come out.
And then the week of the tourna
ment, the final tnlnllnn- n( the uwm
which showed that he had wen the
championship and had tnken away the
famous old cup from Jim Bnrnes who
wen It last year and brought it West
with him ten days age.
Sister Rejoices as Gene
Is Crowned Open Champ
Telegraph wires began te burn with
the news and the sister Margaret, who
with se much pride has followed the
success of her brother nnd new living
In Rye, was told thnt Gene bad reached
the pinnacle.
"I just couldn't believe it nt first,"
she said with n bnppy laugh, "but
there was no doubting the head lines.
I rushed out and telephoned my mother
and father at Mount Vernen, and my
dad thought I was kidding him. I
finally made him believe me and he
could hardly talk. He had been in bed"""
when I phoned, but get dressed and
walked about three squares away te the
station te get the papers and read all
about It for hitiKelf."
While in New Yerk he staved at
the Biltmore. Calls of consratu'latlea
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thought It was a golf stick, and inva
riably the peer dell would come te an
untimely end. the broken china face a
Mlent reproach for his thoughtlessness.
And then the sister would clench her
small hands nnd with dark eyes snap
ping, tell htm what she thought of him
as a husband, fcrether and "tender" of
her children.
But en the neff day. when a warm
sun dispelled the gloom of the rain,
Gene would take his sister out Inte the
field in which he practiced and teach
her hew te swing n club.
Margaret was his only girl com
panion in these days. He would leek
nbeut for escape If he thought dctinitely
thnt a girl was coming te speak with
blm. DcHpite the fact thnt he was n
decidedly peer scholar, his soft, dark
eyes nnd sn.lle as bright as the sunny
Italian skies of which he bad been told,
wen for him n place in the affection or
his teachers, and it wns indeed difficult
for them te enforce discipline.
When he came home from school In
the afternoon he stuck bis head in the
deer te see whnt chores his mother had
for him te de. .With nlnrmlug speed
he would fly through them nnd then
dnnh out of the house, slamming doera
behind him.
Stayed Away Until Hunger
Get the Best of Him
Then bis mother knew that until the
pangs of hunger gnawed very persist
ently at her small son's stomach he
would net be Been. lie wlis off te his
beloved golf links, where his willing
feet trudged the fairways and his bright
eyes penetrated the tangled roughs.
And always he dreamed of the time
when lie would be n great golfer. Wern
out from his strenuous dny, he would
kiss his mother geed-night, expand his
chest and smile upon her ns he hii id.
"Just you wait and see, mother, seme
day when 1 grew up te be a man,
you'll hear of me as a great golfer."
the metner, wne Knew utile et tne
game, would put his head and send
him scuttling away te bed, where he
weu'd lay awake staring nhend of hint
In the darkness, dreaming Ids dreams
of the day he would "de things" in
the golf world.
Gene managed te devote part of his
time te basketball, because It was a
i;anm nnd interested him, lie Iiccmiiui
known ns the champion gunl shooter of
llie Arnnuc Arrows, a club la ilur
ilsmi. And then came the time when he
wanted u title! One lannet go mi bear
hunts and kill liens and jigcrs and
tilings without a rttle, Hut the futniiy
exchequer did net have money for a
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New champion and cup he wen
to-lm-fergottou dn when the rllle ar
ritcil. Target practice then became a part
et the days nctiiiie. and the sister
v.as diawn Inte that. Alwii. he was
looking out for her In n-hoel thev
were in the tame cl,ts.. and Genu saw saw
te It. dchplte tlie fact that he was
jeunger in j ears and smaller In sta
ture than Muig.iiei. that u.mc of the
sihcel liejs would Set MTV i'Imm' te her.
AMutii nights a driiikiim las would
' pl.tci'd en the llei.i, tln opening lin
ing them. And then standing at a dis
tance he and his siMer would compete,
tnlug te see who muld put a b.ill in
nil' gllN Wit I le fi-wer kiln .. II,,..
Gene is shown here at the com
pletion of his swing.
times when he was practicing. Sp
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ling Kept an eye en him, directing his
minis, renecung n is mistakes ami nl-e
gate him a new set of sticks. When
Gene was fifteen Sparling gac him
still mere time, took him under Ills
professional wins, and taught him some
tricks of the trade. ll. ale gave lilm
a job in the club house ns his nd.tant
Sarazen and his sister Margaret as, they looked in the dujs. win
golf in the kitchen was a popular pastime with them
Gene learned te clean nnd
;d thcr
teiiaii club
When Gene wa
taikeii with linn and let lienc ieall.e
that he showed cMrunrillmrv nMlit.
and that he, Sparling, beliee'd that ill
jime cieuc would lie one of the best
I golfers In the country . This acted as
an Inceutlte and was still mere of an
I Impetus, herause close association with
, Sparling h.ul laiight Gem' te admire
the man and repect Ids opinion
I Walter Hagen. :nner of the HuUsl.
I open fhlliiil iti-liti. visited the rill.
; aild Wiib-ijrd (iene watched the g eit
I mnn pla And then it was he niul
for it ili finite st,e, and spent m.iin
Hours atti'inptiug te top Hagen
(ler a certain twist he would devote
nruiy days, detei mined te cenipier u
The Seuth, with its blue sk' and
waving palms, called te him and he
fil
ed it. because it would mean taking I poured In upon him. girls wrote poems
nneut mm wiilcli thej sent en colored
sneets of perfumed
OWllA tile DOMlien of f)n mini fnr n limn
seventeen Sparling'1"' ,l1"1 1",r" weiking
.-se iiunter was let go te make it all
tight for tienc's way of thinking. But
that wasn't te his manner of thinking
nt all, se he cave his lesiirn.iiluii. uml
once unite turned te jelf iiihciikiiipk m
see if he would he able te ic.id of some- no'deslre te be Impelit
uiiiiK ier nun,
TI.e country club at Tilusville, Pa.,
was in the niaiket for a luefcssinnal,
and i"iic sigmd up there But the
emus,, was en!j mue holes mid time
bi'iunie restless; . wnnied te get out
and play against the big men in his
he'd, whcie he would h.nc cnmpeti cnmpeti
lien, I.oetller, by working hard, had got
ten him ii position s pin at tile Hernet
alle Ceiintl' Cliil), Heaver Palis
nil tier, rennrfpr
(locked about him. Everywhere he was
in eemunii.
Gelf, ye.s lie would answer any ques
tions he might be asked, but he did
net raic te talk about himself With
Ills CM! would
live lewuid tne (.nek. because In a
short time he was leaving for Mt.
ci non. where lie was te spend the eve-uln,-
with bis family
.T"dny he plays n tournament et
Phllment Country Club with doe Kirk Kirk
weed, the Australian star. Walter
Hagen and Charley IJeffiier, the Pblln
delp' '.i professional .lock Hutchinson
had been asked te lay, but is In peer'
health. When Saia.nn was asked te
take his plaie he linmedlnte accepted.
.iiiiny iiiiiiuaiiiPiiis tuning lout tin
A .. nappy rmilile shot te ths Brccn.
Miir. i nerc weie suees ami loeil te1 "Beys hell
un uuiikiii, no none ami ins sister went well ylvcyeii
into eeiinul and i.cililcd te .inswec an , premium !" S
auvcrtltenicnt which they bad necu la paign the friend
iud i'i"-i. ' neighborhood,
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