Golf: Render unto Julius

When he beat Ben Hogan to win his first U.S. Open championship in 1952, Julius Boros was described by a sportswriter as a man who "played with a cool nonchalance, chomping blades of grass, making shots with a cigarette dangling from his lips." In 1963, when he won the Open for the second time by beating Arnold Palmer in a playoff, he was said to be "placid and pleasant." Last week Boros was still cool, nonchalant, placid and pleasant—and still winning. This time, the prize was his third major title, the Professional Golfers Association championship. Boros still chomped on grass, still smoked. In fact, the only changes worth noting were that Ben Hogan was not in the field and that Arnold Palmer, although present, did not force Boros into a playoff. Jack Nicklaus? He didn't even make the 36-hole cut.

Excited Fishing. No more professional golfer than Boros has ever won the P.G.A. At 48 and in his 19th year on the tour, he has arthritis, bursitis, myocarditis ("whatever that is"), and a resigned attitude toward his trade. "I would like to drop off the tour," he says, "but I've got seven kids to educate, and the first one starts college in a couple of years. Where else could I make this kind of money?" Where indeed? In his pro career, Boros has won more than $650,000, and his income lately has stabilized at a pleasantly plump, middle-aged level. Last year, in 25 tournaments, he earned $126,785. This year, after 18 tournaments, he has $82,701 in the bank, and professes to be a trifle disappointed that he hasn't won more. "I'm playing better all the time," he explains—adding, a bit incredulously: "I'm actually hitting longer than ever."

Boros still wants people to believe that he would rather stay home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and fish for snook than play golf. At the very least, he says, "I get just as excited when I fish as I do when I'm playing golf." And how excited is that? Well, after he won the 1963 Open, Julius reportedly opened a beer, lit up a cigarette, and fell sound asleep while he was being interviewed by a nationally syndicated columnist. Oh no, insists Boros: he was only resting his eyes.