Sport: Bobby Is Back

Jowly Bobby Locke had sprouted a mustache. But nothing new had been added to his game. It was still the same old methodical, plodding show that once prompted Lloyd Mangrum to say to Bobby: "You're the only man I've ever seen who looked like he was shooting an 80 and came in with a 70." In Chicago last week, the man his fellow pros call "Old Muffin Face" came in with something better than a 70.

A year ago, Bobby Locke had been banned by the Professional Golfer's Association from playing in any U.S. tournament because he had cavalierly cut some of his engagements. Last April the ban was lifted. Last week a lot of U.S. pros wished it hadn't been—or that Bobby had stayed in his native South Africa.

Bobby had won everything in sight in Europe this year, including the British Open (TIME, July 17). He did not hurry over to the U.S. as soon as the P.G.A. lifted the ban; he waited for the biggest money tournament in the U.S., the ten-day merry-go-round at Promoter George May's Tam O'Shanter course.

Going into the last nine holes of the "All-American" round, Locke seemed hopelessly out of the running. His outgoing 36 had been right on par, but dapper Lloyd Mangrum was already sitting comfortably in the clubhouse with a trim 282 for the 72 holes. To tie, Bobby needed an incoming 31, i.e., five birdies in the last nine holes. He did it. His rusty old putter herded in putts of 10, 32, 12, 30, and 22 feet, for a five-under-par 67.

In his playoff with Mangrum next day, 12,000 fans clambered over the course to watch the pair. Bobby shot 69; Mangrum had a 73. Said Good Loser Mangrum: "It certainly is a pleasure to be doing business with an old established firm." Said Locke, as he tucked the $2,500 winner's check* in his pocket, "I just can't say how nice it is to be back in the United States again."