Remembering Farrell An article by Red Hoffman, New Jersey Star-Ledger Date: 2000/03/05 Sunday Page: 003 Section: SPORTS Edition The too-long ignored accomplishment of Johnny Farrell, the late Baltusrol golf professional and 1928 U.S. Open champion, finally has been recognized worldwide. Farrell was cited in this column on Feb. 20 for his then-record eight tournament victories in a row in 1927, of which no mention ever was made during the recent six-tournament streak of Tiger Woods. Finally, on ABC-TV at the telecast last Sunday of the final match between winner Darren Clarke of Ireland and finalist Woods, a segment was devoted to Farrell's accomplishment. It was related by Curtis Strange, like Farrell a former Open winner turned telecaster. Strange, who will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team next year, made a point that Farrell had been a member of the first three teams in 1927, '29 and '31. He also was the first winner, in 1929, of the Best Dressed Golfer Award, given by Rodman Wanamaker, a key figure in the founding of the PGA and donor of its championship trophy. During the tribute, seen in 140 countries, Strange's co-commentator, Peter Alliss, listed the eight tournaments won by the pro, who spent 43 years at Baltusrol. All were Opens: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Chicago, Shawnee, Eastern, Wheeling (W. Va.) and Metropolitan, a major in those hickory-shaft days. Farrell went on to even greater glory the following year when he beat Bobby Jones by one stroke in a 36-hole playoff in the U.S. Open at Chicago's Olympia Fields. Farrell shot 70-73-143 and Jones 73- 71-144, with both golfers scoring birdies on the 35th and 36th holes, after they had tied with 10-over-par 294s for the regulation 72 holes.