European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 18, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday june 18, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary America waiting for new Golf hero its As if this . Open were a Golf seance. As if everybody under the big Leafy Trees at the country club in Brookline mass., were wailing for Francis Ouimet to Slep out of the to screens in theold pc flow and White wooden clubhouse or jump Down from any of the Black and White photographs of him on the dark wooden Walls under the ceiling fans in the men s locker room. Then a 10-year-old Boston Amateur Ouimet was hailed As America s first Golf hero when he won the 1913 open in an 18-Hole playoff with Hany Vardon and Ted Ray the two reigning English Golf ers of that Era. It came out of the Blue Ouimet was saying on the videotape of a Black and White to show thai redid before presenting the 1963 open trophy to Julius doras. "1 did t expect to do at this 75lh anniversary of the open that puts Golf on the front sports Page America is waiting for an other Francis Ouimet Mother new Golf hero to Rouse the populace. Not that Ouimet was a great golfer. Bui historically he was a timely Champion. And now America needs another Likely Champion for this Era one Ca Pable of consistently challenging the foreign golfers Sandy Lyle Greg Norman sevc balls Stvros Bern hard Langer and Nick Faldo. Of the previous 15 major tournaments that in clude the masters the British open and inc off championship those five foreigners have won Sis. Of the last three majors. Lyle won this year s masters and Faldo won last year s British open. Of the americans who won the other nine major titles during that Span notably such younger player Sas Ben Crenshaw Bob Tway Larry and last year s open Champion. Scott Simpson none won More than once. America needs a new golfer who can impose Impact by winning several majors the Way Tom wat Dave Anderson son won eight from 197s through 1983, ideally that new Golf hero should be in his mid-20s, As Watson was in 1975. But of All the american golfers 33-Ycar-Otd Curtis strange is the most Eligi ble to arrive finally. So Range had a on under Par 70 thursday two shots off the Lead shared by Lyle at 68. Others to watch were Simpson and Paul Azinger at 69, Lann Wadkins and Craig Stadler at 70 and Crenshaw at 71, out with Ballesteros at 69 and Faldo at 72, along with Lyle s 68, maybe there is no american ready to emerge As a challenger to the foreign golfers who have earned their pedestals. Despite his 14 victories on the pea tour and earnings of More than s3 million so Range has yet to win a major. He blew his Best Chance in inc 1985 masters when he put a 4-Wood into the Creek at the 13th Hole and a 4-Iron into the Pond at the i5lh Hole. Some Louring pros argue that strange is the world s besi player but Jack Niklaus inc four time open Champion put Slit Itic s career in perspective. Curtis has t won a Nicklaus said. You be got to win that first major before you Start talking about that level of golfer. Nicklaus who won 20 major titles Over More thana Quarter of a Century Calls Norman the world s Best player despite a 74 thursday primarily because the australian has won about 50 tournaments world wide including the 1986 British open. For years Nicklaus was the golfer to beat in a major championship As Arnold Palmer was before him As Watson was later. But this week Nicklaus listed Norman balls Stvros and Lyle As the world s three strongest players Inthis 88th open on an old fashioned course. The country club has the flow of Shinn cock Hills an Merion with rough As stylishly shaggy As a Rich Man s haircut. The history the tradition the course Here s a Little magic Here said Frank Hanningan the senior executive director of the United states Golf association. It s a Fine old rolling course. The land is inter Esting. The Little greens the new England Rock out unlike other years Itu golfers Are not complaining about the difficulty of the open course. Maybe they lost their voices griping at the masters this year. Or judging by thursday s scores maybe it s jus not As torturous As other open courses. This week s 90-Dcgrcc heat has wilted some of inc rough. But it has also hardened those Little greens. During a practice round tuesday an on Looker at the i oth Green thought he saw Jim Thorpe Small come to a Stop on a Nob and slide a few inches Down an incline. No turn not Roll but slide. As if it were on ice. Surely in was an optical illusion. No no i saw that Thorpe confirmed later. I told my Caddie. That Ball Slid that s what am happens when the greens get crusty like in sunday s Twilight if not in monday s 18-holc playoff the Champion Here will be the golfer who can Best pull on those hard Little greens. And maybe Iha Champion will be an american golfer who can do to Lyle Ball Coleros and Norman what Francis Ouimet did to Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Robinson eager to play for spurs Boss Brown by Stephan Nasstrom Kotka Finland a even though David Robinson won t play for Larry Brown until after next season the future Center of the san Antonio spurs is excited about the team s new coach. I be heard things about him As a per son and i be Only Neard Good things so i m excited about that the 1987 College player of the year and current Ensign in the Navy said of Brown thursday As he prepared to play for a . Select team. Brown who led Kansas to the inca championship in april left the Jay Hawks monday for a reported five year 13.5 million contract with inc struggling spurs of the Aba. He brawn has been a winning coach Robinson said. That s Gal to make me feel Good. But As far As me playing for him i la have to wait and Don t know. I la have to get a feel on How he coaches the team Robinson became tie world s highest paid athlete when he signed an eight year j26-million contract with the spurs after his graduation from the naval Academy and selection As the no. 1 Choice in the Aba draft. The heavily favored american team was to play the Netherlands Friday night in this finnish City close to the soviet order opening the four nation Pohjola cup. Britain and Finland Are the other teams in the round Robin tournament that ends sunday. After a Long Layoff while serving his military obligation Robinson is getting closer to being the dominant inside player he was in College. He played Well Dur ing the recent us. Olympic trials at Colorado Springs and was among the 16 finalists for the team that will defend the Gold medal in Seoul. A Likely starter on the olympic team Robinson was placed on the select team with 11 other players to gel the game Competition he needs. The spurs like the select team a Cyoung and Robinson said the potential is Good. So he Brown is going to be excited As i m sure the rest of san Antonio is Robinson said. I just want to come in there and fulfil my pan. That s really my main concern. I want to go in there and play and be real Good. I have Confidence in myself that i la be Able to do thai. I can t be concerned How Good a coaching Job he s going to do. 1 have logo in there and do my Job. If 1 do that and everybody lakes care of their own jobs. 1 think every thing will fall Inlo the 22-year-old Robinson says his Overall game needs to improve and he has been working hard on that. I need to improve on everything really rebounding real Well offensively and defensively working on my Low Post moves he said. Especially since i la be playing a lot of Guys who arc More of my size and quickness in the Aba. Offensively i la have to be a lot More versatile especially in the Low Post also need to improve my free throw shoot ing the . Select team will play six games in nine Days on its european tour three in Finland and one each in France Austria and Spain next week. That s exactly what Robinson needs Tes definitely Robinson said. In will do us All a lot of Good 10 get out and in september s Seoul olympics Rob Inson could face 7-foot-3 soviet Center Arvida Sabonis whom he outscored 20 16 and outplayed Down the stretch two years ago As the . Won the world championship. . Olympic basketball coach John Thompson who is not with the team for the european tour has criticized the Aba s Portland Trail blazers for amending David Robinson 83blocking a Shol during olympic dials leads us. Into tourney. Medical assistance to the injured Sabonis whom they drafted in the first round in 1936. To be perfectly honest. I Don t really care Robinson said. As a team i feel like if we play our own game Well Bevery Lough to beat no Mailer what. But it does seem like it s kind of trying to de feat your own purpose. But Thill s How it is in the states. Everybody is looking for Shtir different interests so you can t really blame them for that Sabonis arrived in Portland at the blazers invitation april 28 to rehabilitate his injured Achilles Tendon. He is expected to return Home Early next month. Robinson who has faced Sabonis just that once said the soviet has tremendous Talent. He has great ability Robinson said. He s a very Good passer a very Good shooter. He s big Strong and athletic he s pretty Lough. You Don t really want to see an opponent with a big Guy who got that much ability. He s definitely got a lot of
