HABERDASHING AT THE OPEN

Of the 15 sartorially vivid golfers shown in color on the following four pages, all but Peter Thomson, an Australian who chose not to enter, will be serious contenders for the U.S. Open title in San Francisco this week. They will also give dramatic proof that golfers are maintaining their reputation as the best-dressed men in sport, combining in their links garb a necessary utility and the dashing appearance of good entertainers. Old Sporting Looksmen Hogan and Snead have all but trademarked their headgear—the white cap, the coconut straw. The knitted shirt wins the approval of all but two of this gallery. But the real comers on golf's fashion front are the baseball-type cap and the alpaca cardigan. The cap, its crown stiffened like baseball's protective helmet, was introduced by Eddie Susella, the pro of Palm Springs' Thunderbird, who now ships it around the world. The alpaca sweater, worn by Mangrum, Souchak and Bolt, has a swing-easy drape, comes in 50 colors and looks like this year's threat to that golfer's classic, cashmere. Mangrum's club mittens are mink.

THE OLD GUARD

Ben Hogan, 42
Winner: 1953 Masters, U.S. & British Opens

Lloyd Mangrum, 40
Winner: 1954 Western Open

Sam Snead, 41
Winner: 1955 Greensboro Open, 1954 Masters

THE YOUNG GUARD

Shelley Mayfield, 31
Winner: 1955 Thunderbird, 1954 San Francisco Open

Mike Souchak, 28
Winner: 1955 Texas Open & Houston Open

Billy Maxwell, 25
Winner: 1955 Azalea Open, 1951 U.S. Amateur

Bud Holscher, 24
Winner: 1954 LaBatts Open

Peter Thomson, 25
Winner: 1954 British Open

Bob Rosburg. 28
Winner: 1954 Miami Open

Arnold Palmer, 25
Winner: 1954 U.S. Amateur

Gene Littler, 24
Winner: 1955 Los Angeles Open, 1953 U.S. Amateur

THE MIDDLE GUARD

Chick Harbert, 40
Winner: 1954 PGA

Julius Boros, 35
Winner: 1954 Ardmore Open, 1952 U.S. Open

Cary Middlecoff, 34
Winner: 1955 Masters, 1949 U.S. Open

Tommy Bolt, 36
Winner: 1955 Tucson Open & San Diego Open

FIFTEEN PHOTOS