WIFE OF LEADING GOLFER

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27090, 13 July 1953, Page 2

WIFE OF LEADING GOLFER

Mrs Peter Thomson Is Help To Husband

COMPANION IN BIG TOURNAMENTS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. Few of the thousands who applauded Peter Thomson’s magnificent bid for the British open championship at Carnoustie this week realised how much his inspiration was drawn from a slim brown-haired girl in a brown beret who followed him all the way. Those who watched the 23-year-old Australian champion closely often saw him look for her, to exchange a quick grin, or perhaps a few words. She was his young wife, Lois, from Warrnambool, Victoria, whom he married 16 months ago. . Occasionally she stepped out of the crowd for a few minutes to give her husband that comfort and encouragement which only someone close could give. Yesterday, when Thomson had the second six of his second round marked on his card, he walked disconsolately off the fifteenth green. His wife moved quickly to him, and talked quietly as he walked to the next tee. Thomson sank a long putt for a birdie 2, and fought back to his fine 72. “He likes to see me there, following along—he says he is keeping an eye on me, to see I don’t get into any mischief,’’ Mrs Thomson said during the last round this afternoon. “Of course, I’m really the mes-senger-girl—once I was sent back the full length of a course when he had forgotten something. My handbag (a big white one. which held surprising things, including a collapsible umbrella fitted into a slot at the bottom) is often used to carry soft drinks around where there are no refreshments handy. “Once, in Mexico, I had to carry bottles of water for Peter in my bag. I like following him now—but at first I was too nervous to watch him putt. I used to go away somewhere, then ask someone in the crowd what had happened. “It still gives me ‘butterflies’ when he is on the green in tournaments like this.’’

Although Mrs Thomson enjoys the life of a top-line golf professional’s wife, she is not keen on the constant travelling that is a feature of the American “gold dust trail’’ tournament circuit.

‘We travel by car. and usually play until Saturdays—then drive on to the next place on Sundays or Monday mornings,’’ she said. “Some of the places are 700 miles apart. “I have to get all my things into a small suitcase. There has to be room for three or four sets of Peter’s clubs, besides all his other equipment. “I try to play a little golf when we are at home, but there’s no room for my clubs when we are touring. We are going back to America next Tuesday or Wednesday, and won’t be returning to Australia until September. Peter has five or six tournaments to play in America.’’