Big Business Babe

When Helen Hicks became the first U.S. woman golf professional in 1934, no one jumped on the bandwagon with her. One reason: there was no money in the women's game. As recently as 1948 only six women managed to earn a living from professional golf. But last week, at White Plains, N.Y., 13 of the 18 pro golfers belonging to the fledgling Ladies' P.G.A. were scrambling around the hilly Knollwood course in quest of prize money that will total $80,000 this year. The big wheel on the women's circuit and the one who has made women's golf pay off: Mrs. George Zaharias, better known as Mildred Didrikson, or just plain "Babe."

As she strode to the first tee, Babe obligingly clowned for photographers and the gallery, but she was in no joking mood. For one of the few times in her competitive golf life (14 years) the Babe found herself in the hole: one stroke behind stocky, redheaded Patty Berg, 33, Ladies' P.G.A. president.

It was the final round of the 144-hole Weathervane cross-country golf tournament and a $5,000 first prize was at stake.* Despite her wisecracks to the gallery ("The only time the gallery will ever bother me is when it doesn't show up"), Babe was grimly intent on winning, "not for the money--I just like to play a good game."

Like the Yankees. Actually, Babe no longer needs the money. She has taken an estimated $250,000 out of golf from prize money, sporting goods companies, movie and TV shorts, endorsements and royalties on equipment bearing her name. Now she dabbles in the stock market, owns the Tampa Golf Club, a 100-room Denver hotel, a 30-acre farm in Pueblo, Colo., and manages to find time to serve as pro at the Skycrest Country Club near Chicago.

The rest of the girls seem not to resent in the slightest the Babe's dominance of the game. Explains Patty Berg: "When I come in second to her I feel as though I had won. It's kind of like the Yankees. They're the champs and you want them to win." Nor do they mind the tough routine of traveling, strange hotels, dreary dinners and the Spartan life of a professional athlete. Bubbles Betsy Rawls, a Texas newcomer to the pro game: "I love getting paid for something I'd do anyway."

Keep Out of Trouble. Last week Patty Berg gave Babe something to shoot at. After slamming home an eagle 2 on the 372-yd. tenth hole, Patty finished with a sparkling 73, 2 over men's par. Babe heard about Patty's round on the 17th tee, knew that even to tie she needed a birdie and a par. She got them. She rammed in a birdie 4 on the 540-yd. 17th, got her par 4 on the 445-yd. 18th by reaching the green with a drive and a dazzling No. 2 iron shot. Final score for both, setting up a playoff for sometime later this summer: 601 for 144 holes.

Babe's booming 240-yd. drives (20 yards farther than the rest of the girls) stood her well, but that is not the only secret of her success. The real trick: "to keep the ball in play," i.e., out of trouble. Babe keeps out of trouble with a fluid swing ("practice, practice, practice") which requires "a stamp of the left foot" to get the arms and body into the pivot.

After her tying rally in last week's tournament, Babe resolutely announced that she was "going home to the pots & pans." Did that mean that 38-year-old Babe, now that Patty Berg was catching up to her, was ready to call it quits? "Heck, no," she grinned, "I'm just beginning to learn this game."

*Ben Hogan got $4,000 in prize money for winning the National Open last year.

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