Sport: Patty Goes Pro

There are only a handful of women golf pros in the U. S. Onetime U. S. Champion Helen Hicks Harb, Kansas City’s hardy, 48-year-old Opal Hill and Washington’s young Helen Dettweiler exhibit their talents at country clubs to promote Wilson golfing equipment. Husky Helen MacDonald, onetime wife of a Chicago pro, runs a golf school. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, famed 1932 Olympic track star, travels around with her husband, Wrestler George Zaharias, gives exhibitions.

Last week this select sorority initiated a new member, freckled-faced, redheaded Patty Berg, tomboy darling of U. S. golf galleries. Still at college (Minnesota junior), still naive enough to shake hands with all comers, to blush when interviewed and squeak “Gee Whillikers” when excited, 22-year-old Patty decided last week that she had had her fill of big silver cups, joined the Wilson boosters—at a salary of $5,000 a year, plus commission on “Patty Berg” clubs.

Henceforth, the onetime national champion, who has been accustomed to winning five out of every six tournaments she entered, must confine her competitive golf to the half-dozen U. S. tournaments open to women pros.