Golf Central

It was on this day in 1954 that Babe Zaharias won the US Women's Open at Salem CC, Massachusetts. 'Big deal,' we hear you ask. 'She's won loads of those, hasn't she?' Well, yes, she has, but this one was a wee bit special, because it was her first US Open after coming back from cancer surgery.

Not only did Babe win, she won it in style, finishing with a 291 total for 72... an incredible 12 strokes ahead of Betty Hicks in secind place. 'My prayers have been answered,' said Babe after hoisting the trophy for the third time. Other women to win the US Open on this day include Betsy Rawls (1957), Carol Mann (1965) and Sandra Spuzich (1966)... but nobody comes close to Babe.

On a terrible day for birds, today in 1844, the last pair of Great Auks were killed. The only of the Auk family to reach modern times, they were hunted from the birth of time for their eggs and fur. A person buried at the Maritime Archaic site in Newfoundland, was found to have been buried in a suit made for 200 Auk skins, with their heads left on for decoration. They're better off out of it...

Join us in a soothing hum of Hau`oli la hanau! to European Tour nobody, Marc Farry (49), cantankerous director Ken Russell (81), playwright Tom Stoppard (71), Fontella 'Rescue me' Bass (68), incendiary journo Julie Burchill (49), and the diminutive Tom Cruise (46).