THE Wild Thing had learned quickly. "John, will you take these?" he said to the locker room manager at Oakland Hills. "Sure, Mr Daly," came the reply as the pair of golf shoes were accepted for cleaning. Only 24 hours previously, Daly admitted to Ben Crenshaw that he had never heard of this legendary figure of the US golf scene.

As, it happens, the man in question is a 64 year old Dubliner with a warm smile and ready wit. "I can trace my ancestors back to Blessington in the 18th century," John Wisely said proudly. Where Crenshaw was concerned, however, Wisely's credentials were established as an employee of the premier club in Mihigan over a period of 37 years.

"He is a familiar, friendly face," said last year's US Masters champion. "He knows what the golfers' wants and needs are and he makes us feel at home. Everything runs smooth here." It certainly appears to be doing so this week, just as it did in two previous US Opens, two Senior Opens, two USPGA. Championships and the Carling World Open.

"I'm the youngest of a family of seven and, by chance, I was actually born in Plymouth where my father had emigrated to find work," he said. "We returned to Dublin, to the North Strand, when I was 12 and I went to O'Connell's School." He went on "I came here to the States in 1954 to join my brother who, unfortunately, died in a swimming accident a year later."

After working in Detroit's Statler Hotel, he joined Oakland Hills as a steward in 1959 and became locker room manager nine years later. "Funny thing, I don't play golf never had the time to take it up," he admitted. "But I plan to do so when I retire."

Of all the players he had met over the years, I wondered who had impressed him most. "Unquestionably Arnold Palmer," he said. "He always has time for ordinary people."

Then he added of the 1981 US Senior Open champion at Oakland Hills. "A gentleman all the way through." Which is "what the players seem to think of John Wisely.

US Open competitors should note the golfing performance of movie actor Kevin Costner last week. Only a year after taking up the game so as to lend greater credibility to his role in the upcoming movie Tin Cup, Costner was at Oakland Hills to tape a segment for the NBC telecast. And he shot a six over par 41 for the front nine.

THINGS have been happening so fast in the sparkling career of Annika Sorenstam, that her autobiography, due to be published in August, has had to be revised several times. Originally conceived as a simple chronicle of her progress through the Swedish national system to a US Women's Open title last year, recent events at Pine Needles demanded radical updating.

Under the original working title of Face to Face, she promised. "I'm going to deal with anything that bothers me and make it into a good thing instead of being afraid." She added. "We were going to call it Lady Vikings but that doesn't sound so golfy." Now, having retained the US Open title on June 2nd, it has been retitled Dale to be the Best.

Predictions over here are that she is about to lose her sweetheart image, not least for criticism of Kim Haddow, her coach at the University of Arizona. Sorenstam claims that it was Haddow's oppressive style which prompted her to turn professional after only two seasons at college. On the evidence of Pine Needles, however, others would suggest with some justification that the coach got it just about right.

IN a rather belated postscript to this year's US Masters, three Augusta National employees have been fired and four others suspended, allegedly for the misappropriation of the most prized season tickets in golf. It arose out of a club policy that full time employees receive two free season badges, valued at $100 each. A waiver must be signed, however, agreeing that they will be used by family or friends and will not be sold.

It seems that in this circumstance, the badges were, in fact, sold by the employees who were on either the housekeeping, bar or locker room staff. They were laid off on April 16th, two days after the end of the tournament, and were suspended or fired on May 3rd. The club closed for the summer on May 19th and the four suspended workers may apply to have their jobs back when Augusta National reopens in mid October.

Jeffrey Hill, one of the three who were dismissed, denies selling his tickets. "We had our tickets and the club couldn't prove the tickets had been sold," said the 31 year old locker room attendant. "They claimed the tickets (serial numbers on the badges) came up at the gate. I feel betrayed, especially since no proof was shown."

He concluded. "We were singled out. I think this was done to scare the rest of the employees. They're using us an example to let anybody know how serious the club is about this." Not surprisingly, the club's director of communications has declined to discuss the matter.

DOUG SANDERS once a familiar in Irish Christy O'Connor Pro-Am, returned to his home in Houston last week after serious illness. Sanders spent six days in a coma and underwent surgery on May 14th in a Montreal hospital to correct a neck condition called spasmodic dystonia.

One of the few players ever to be remembered for not winning a major championship he missed a 30 inch putt for the 1970 British Open at St Andrews Sanders had been bothered by neck pain for several years and unalike to play golf since 1994. "When I went to move my hand to the left, sometimes my neck would go to the right," he said. "I had to have something done."

Now, having lent his name to a Seniors' Tour event in Houston from 1988 to 1994, he is hoping to resume his competitive career or at least play golf as a recreation. "I feel like I've got a second chance at life," said the winner of 19 events on the American tour. "Just the opportunity to look out the window at a golf course is pretty nice. ,Golf is my life."

SUITABLE prominence was given here this week to the act that Ben Hogan gave his 13 year old caddie $350 out of his $4,000 winnings from the 1951 US Open. But another Oakland Hills caddie was much more fortunate when the event came to the Michigan venue for the first time, 27 years previously.

In the 1924 US Open in which, incidentally, steel shafted putters were permitted for the first time, Cyril Walker duly presented his winner's cheque for $500 to his caddie. And Walker never subsequently expressed any regret for that splendid gesture as he might have done. For he could well have used the money.

As it happened, he lost everything in the Florida land crash and, destitute, he turned to cad dying to try and make ends meet. Sadly, it was all to no avail. He died a few years later in a New Jersey jail where he sought a bed for the night.

Meanwhile, the 1937 US Open at Oakland Hills was notable in that it marked the last time competitors could carry an unlimited number of clubs. Defending champion Tony Manero carried 16 clubs pre-championship favourite Henry Cooper carried 18 and Johnny Revolt a had 20, including seven woods, three of which were drivers. On January 1st 1938, the USGA introduced a 14 club limit.

In brief Carmel Lynch informs me that the fourth staging of the Flogas Mother and Son tournament will take place at Malahide GC on July 19th. Further information from (01) 846 1611. . . . After eight days of intense competition, the 28th final of Finches Husband and Wife tournament will take place at Newlands tomorrow.... Carole Beattie points out that the cost per team in the Golf Classic at The Open GC next Wednesday in aid of St Francis' Hospice. Raheny has been kept down to £80 to attract "ordinary golfers." Further information from (01) 8392983.... Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children will be the beneficiaries of the Slieve Russell/Cavan Crystal Corporate Golf Classic on July 11th.

TEASER: In an US tournament early this year. Tom Watson's drive landed in casual water. Unable to find the ball, he declared it lost and elected to go back to where he last played from and play another ball. Unfortunately, this option carried a penalty stroke. In fact, he had another option which would have allowed him to put another ball into play without penalty. What was it?

ANSWER: Watson proceeded under the lost ball rule. However, since he had reasonable evidence his ball was lost in casual water, he was entitled to drop a ball, without penalty within one club length of where the ball last crossed the margin of the casual water. Another Watson error is that the rules do riot permit a player to declare his ball lost. But he may abandon it.