After Providing Labor and Land, They Played at Shinnecock Hills

John Shippen didn’t win the U.S. Open when it was first played at Shinnecock Hills in 1896, but his appearance as a first-round leader is a major footnote in golf history.

The African American son of a minister and schoolmaster, Shippen had been part of the work crew that built the original course on the Shinnecock Indian reservation on Long Island. When some players objected to having to play with an African American and Oscar Bunn, a native American, U.S. Golf Assn. President Theodore Havemayer told them: “Gentlemen, you can leave or stay as you please. We are going to play this tournament tomorrow with them and with or without you.”

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Add Shinnecock: Shippen shot a first-round 78 to share the lead with four others. The next African American to lead an Open was Jim Thorpe, who shot an opening-round 66 in 1981 at Merion in Ardmore, Pa.

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Trivia time: Who is the only person to own the winning car in the Indianapolis 500 and the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby?

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Family man: Although he was born in Hoboken, N.J., and raised in Placentia, Michael Chang feels Chinese first, American second, according to his mother, Betty Chang. The family converses in Chinese and eats primarily Chinese food she prepares.

“Our family’s goal is to help Michael be the best that he can be,” she told l’Equipe. “Whether it’s No. 1 or No. 10, it doesn’t matter as long as he fulfills his potential. We work together as a unit. We discuss all problems and find solutions as a family.”

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The way it is: Greg Norman, on the eve of the U.S. Open in which he is a favorite, had this to say about his position:

“The old adage that the more you win, the easier it is for you to win again, that’s the biggest crock I’ve ever heard of. The more you win, the more people expect you to win. That’s just a fact.”

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Croquet, anyone? Backyard croquet usually conjures up visions of barbecues, crabgrass and friendly games with family and neighbors.

But competitive croquet on manicured country club courts, with players dressed in white, is on a roll.

“I think it is a cross between pool, chess and war on grass,” said one ranking player.

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No shrinking violet: Decathlon champion Dan O’Brien on his competition:

“I’ve always felt that since 1991 that I was in a league of my own. I don’t worry about the competition.”

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But why? According to the July issue of Runners’ World, Lynn Nelson, the 1988 Olympic trials 10,000-meter winner, finished the Carlsbad 5,000 in 16 minutes 28 seconds last April wearing two left shoes.

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Trivia answer: Howard Keck, with driver Bill Vukovich in the 1953 and 1954 500s, and Ferdinand, ridden by Willie Shoemaker, in the 1986 Derby.

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Quotebook: New York Yankee Manager Buck Showalter, on why he benched Danny Tartabull, his $25.5-million outfielder: “I got everyone out there who wanted to play.”