LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

We are quite proud that the majority of our editors worked their way up from lower positions on the staff, but this progression has not been a matter of rigid policy. When we spot a man on some other publication who looks like an ideal choice for an editing assignment—and who, of course, is interested in sport as well as magazine-making—we try to get him.

Our latest grab, and one we are particularly pleased with, is Don Anderson, the editor who was responsible for the planning and production of the Masters preview that begins on page 44. Anderson joined us last September, and along with golf he handles much of what we call "outside text"—articles written by people who are not on the Staff. His reputation for skillful handling of these exacting relationships is one of the reasons we reached for Don when we learned he was available.

For nearly five years beginning in March of 1965, Anderson was the associate editor of West, the Sunday magazine of the Los Angeles Times, which has a weekly circulation of 1.3 million. During that time he was asked to work closely with many of the magazine's most celebrated contributors—William Saroyan, Jimmy Breslin, Budd Schulberg and others.

Before that, Anderson was a legislative assistant to Congressman James C. Corman (D., Calif.) in Washington and later a field deputy in charge of Corman's district office, participating in the development of legal-assistance and poverty programs in the opening days of those efforts. Anderson has also worked for CBS, traveling extensively with the network's election unit and covering the Democratic and Republican Conventions of 1964.

It was during this stint with broadcasting that Don first encountered the world of professional golf. In 1963 he covered the first CBS Golf Classic at La Quinta Country Club in California and there made friends with Dave Marr. The first story Anderson handled as SI's golf editor happened to be Dan Jenkins' piece on Marr (Feb. 2).

Anderson is no intimidating golfer himself, though he does play, and is anxious to find out whether he can beat other members of the SI golf department when the weather in the East permits a confrontation. If he plays as well as he thinks golf, our home-bred hustlers may be in for trouble.

"Many people don't realize that a whole new generation of golfers (and golf fans) has come of age in the years since Arnold Palmer began dominating the tour." says Don, "and I don't think people realize how many really excellent golfers arc competing on the circuit today. One of these days there's going to be a breakthrough—another Palmer, Nicklaus or Player—and we're going to see another golden era."

When that great moment comes or, hopefully, just before it does, we are counting on Don to tell us—and you—about it.

PHOTO

ANDERSON DREAMS OF THE LONG BALL