This Day in Golf--May 18

This is not an uplifting day in history. On May 18, 1950, in Boston, Bobby Jones underwent a second spinal surgery to alleviate his syringomyelia condition, but it was eventually not considered a success. A wire-service news item read: “Bobby Jones Goes Under Surgery”--BOSTON, May 18 -- A surgical operation today on golfdom’s great Bobby Jones--at the base of his skull--was expected to correct a long-standing spinal ailment caused by an accident 20 years ago. Jones was taken to the New England Baptist Hospital for the operation after a checkup at the Lahey Clinic. Dr. Frank Lahey, head of the clinic, said an examination there showed the former golf champion was suffering from pressure on the spinal cord. Birthday: Well spoken TV sportscaster Jack Whitaker, who worked golf for CBS and ABC, was born on this day in 1924.