MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER ARRESTED ON-SITE!

This story isn’t about Scottie Scheffler, but another major champion who had a run in with the law, this time during tournament play.

We rewind the clock to the year 1929. Out story today takes place at Riviera Country Club at the 1929 LA Open (now called the Genesis Open).

Cyril Walker won the 1924 US Open, and in doing so, became one of the few golfers of that era to beat the great Bobby Jones during his prime. He could have lived a storied career based on that one major victory, but two things spoiled his heroics- he was an alcoholic, and he was a dreadfully slow player.

How slow was Cyril Walker? In an era that had random tee times, rather than merit based (the leader teeing off in the final group), tournament officials more often than not, teed up Cyril in the final group. Why? Because he was so slow that he would ruin tournaments for everyone. He was so slow that he often was forced to play with a marker because pros refused to tee it up in his group, choosing rather to WD than to endure his snail-like pace.

In the 1929 LA Open at Riviera it all came to a head. Perhaps it was the shine of Los Angeles and the glitter of Hollywood, or maybe it was the fact that this tournament was the first ever to be broadcasted via radio, but tournament officials were fed up.

The first attempts to speed up Walker were polite…. more of a suggestion. The second attempt was a warning, which was met with Walker’s hell and brimstone attitude of “do you know who I am!” The third was a threat of being thrown out of the tournament. Nothing changed.

Finally tournament officials reached their breaking point and disqualified him- to which Walker just gritted his teeth and ignored them. He actually kept playing. When threatened with being arrested - he kept playing. Enough was enough- the LAPD showed up on the behest of the LA Open and the membership of Riviera Country Club and forcefully removed the 1924 US Open Champion from the course and then the property. There are some stories that they threw him off the property (I have sincere doubts it went down like quite like that).

When stubborn ol’ Cyril mentioned he might just walk back through the gates and start playing again, he was informed that he would be arrested and charged with trespassing. Fortunately for Cyril, unlike Scheffler that was that- he didn’t go to jail (at least not this time).

The 1929 LA Open wasn’t the last sad story of Cyril’s slide from fame. Four years later, as the pro of Saddle River Golf & CC in New Jersey, he was arrested for destroying a rival country club’s signs. A mere five years after that, as alcoholism took its hold, he became a part time caddy at a public course in Florida and part time dishwasher.

The tragic tale of the 1924 US Open Champion, Cyril Walker would conclude with his untimely death at the age of 55 from Pneumonia when he was passed out in a jail cell in New Jersey.

The man who beat Bobby Jones at the height of his powers was ultimately beaten by the drink.

For those of you who suffer from alcoholism or have a family member who is an alcoholic, please seek help. You are not alone!

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I intended on taking this week off, but the unfortunate arrest of Scottie Scheffler reminded me of another major champion and a story I thought worthy of sharing.

Thank you for reading this newsletter and sharing it with your friends.

Until next time…

Yours in Golf History,

Connor T. Lewis