Why They Included Sam Snead

In a ceremonial start, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead were the first to tee off in the Masters.

Sarazen, at 85, is the oldest former winner, and his double eagle in 1935 is still the most famous shot in the tournament’s history.

Nelson was celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Masters victory.

Why was Snead included in the threesome?

“Because,” someone observed, “he’s Sam Snead.”

Add Masters: From Arnold Palmer, looking on the bright side after shooting 83-77--160, his worst score ever at Augusta: “Maybe I cheered the gallery up a little. Watching me today, maybe they feel better about their own games.”

For the Record: Alex Hannum, who won titles at St. Louis, San Francisco and Philadelphia, should have been included with Dick Motta and Bill Fitch as NBA coaches who won division titles with three different teams.

The omission was pointed out in a letter from Alexander M. Hannum, President, Alex Hannum, General Contractor, Inc., Santa Maria.

Trivia Time: What do Alex Hannum, Mac O’Grady and Sidney Wicks have in common? (Answer below.)

Dept. of Irony: Every time Steve Carlton saves a game for Phil Niekro, Niekro moves closer to him on the all-time win list. Carlton has 323 wins, Niekro 312.

Don Mattingly’s teammates showed little concern after he went 1 for 13 in the New York Yankees’ first three games.

“What’s he hitting?” asked Ron Kittle. Told it was .077, he said, “Did they have that on the scoreboard? They should’ve taken a picture of it, ‘cause it isn’t going to be there long.”

Right. After Friday night, it’s .063.

Said Washington Bullets Coach Kevin Loughery after Moses Malone scored 50 points Wednesday night: “Only an outstanding player can raise it a notch, and Moses did that tonight. A lot of players would like to raise it a notch but there are no notches there.”

From former catcher Joe Garagiola: “Never trust a baserunner who’s limping. Comes a base hit and you’ll think he just got back from Lourdes.”

For What It’s Worth: When Bo Jackson started and ended the fourth inning with strikeouts for Kansas City Wednesday night, he became the 34th player in history to strike out twice in one inning. The last was Deron Johnson of the Oakland A’s on Sept. 23, 1973.

Trivia Answer: All three went to Hamilton High School.

Quotebook

Frank Gansz, new head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, shrugging off the tough road schedule in 1987: “Genghis Khan fought on the road all the time, and he did pretty well.”