World Series To Player

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31780, 10 September 1968, Page 19

World Series To Player

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) AKRON (Ohio). G. Player, of South Africa, won his second World Series of Golf championship in a sudden death play - off against the Masters champion, R. Goalby, at the Firestone Country Club, in Ohio. Player’s win on the fourth extra hole gave him a first place cash prize of SUSSO,OOO, and Goalby received $15,000 for second place. Both Player and Goalby completed the 36-hole championship regular play with a 143 total for the two days of competition. The P.G.A. champion, J. Boros, was one over on the final hole, and lost his chance to move into the play-off as he finished with a total of 144. L. Trevino, the United States Open champion, finished at 153. Player, the British Open champion, hit a birdie three for the title when his strong 6 iron into the green stopped 10ft to the left of the pin. From there he made the putt to win. “Obviously I’m excited,” Player said. “I have been in

11 sudden death play-offs before this one and I had lost them all. This was very much on my mind." Player and Goalby were both one over on the first extra hole. Player drove into a bunker, came out strongly and two-putted. > Goalby had an excellent opportunity but he three-putted from 35ft out, leaving the first one Bft short.

“I squeeze the ball up there,” Goalby said. “You have to release the club head and I didn’t do it. If you have to choke I guess it’s just as well to choke on $50,000.” Boros collected $7500 for his third place, and Trevino $5OOO for his fourth. < The win took Player’s winnings this year to $109,110 in 16 tournaments in the United States.