Golf: For Goodness' Sake, Hold On

What wears purple Bermuda shorts, walks like a man, hits like a man, and occasionally loses its temper like a man? A lady golf pro.

In golf, the big difference between boys and girls is money. Last year Arnold Palmer won seven tournaments and took home $128,230. Mickey Wright, the ladies' champion who hammers her drives 250 yds. and more, won about twice as many tournaments (13), but her take-home pay was only $31,269. Not bad, of course, but hardly fair.

Last week in Augusta, Ga., Mickey and the rest of the girls got together for the 25th Titleholders championship, the ladies' equivalent of the Masters—except in cash. When Palmer won the Masters last month, he collected $20,000, and the rest of the field divvied up another $110,000. Total prize money at the Titleholders: $7,500.

It might have been a million as far as the girls were concerned. In the second round, Kansas' Marilynn Smith shot a 66, and even from the front tees, that's a score any man would be proud of. But then she shot a third-round 77, and had to score a one-under-par 35 for the final nine holes to beat fast-closing Mickey Wright by one stroke.

She also had to duck, just to stay alive. Midway in the last round, Mari-lynn's playing partner, Judy Kimball, missed a 3-ft. putt. Swinging her putter in teeth-grinding disgust, Judy sent it zinging right past Marilynn's ear (see cut). At least she had the sense to hold onto the handle. The penalty for throwing a club is $50, and at ladies' prices, that's no bargain. For winning the Titleholders for the second year in a row, Marilynn Smith collected $ 1,300. Mickey got $1,000, and Judy, who finished fourth, got only $625.