There were several thrilling triumphs recorded in United States major golf championships of 1956. One of these saw Cary Middlecoff of Memphis, Tenn., a former dentist. win the U.S. open title at Rochester. N.Y.. in a close finish. Middle-toff, who also won this event in 1949. posted 281 for 72 holes. Ben Hogan, trying for an unprecedented fifth U.S. open crown and the only current competitor who had ever won the champion-ship four times, finished in a tie with Julius Boros for second at 282. Hogan seemed about to close in on Middlecoff but at the 71st hole failed to sink a two-foot putt. Peter Thomson, the Australian, who led at the conclusion of the first 36 holes, finished in a tie at 285 with Ed Furgol and Ted Kroll.
    Thomson left for England shortly after this tourney and proceeded to win the British open for the third straight year. At Hoylake, Thomson's golf brought him a winning aggregate of t86. Flory Van Donck of Belgium finished second at 289.
    Despite the fact that Kroll had tossed away a golden opportunity in the U.S. open, he later emerged as the leading money player of the year. He met a setback in the Professional Golfers association (P.G.A.) championship at Canton, Mass., where he bowed in the final to Jack Burke, Jr.. of Houston. Tex., by ;and 2. But Kroll, registered from St. Petersburg. Fla., went on to win the "world's championship," annually sponsored by George S. May at Chicago's Tam O'Shanter course. The first prize that Kroll won as a result of his score of 273 was $0.000. This rich plum helped him boost his winnings for the year to more than $70,000.
    Burke, besides winning the P.G.A. title for the first time. enjoyed a noteworthy season by crashing through to bag the Masters tournament at Augusta, Ga., in the spring. Ken Venturi, a 22-year-old amateur from San Francisco, Calif.. had set a whirling pace to lead the brilliant field chiefly composed of the nation's top professional players. However. in the fourth and final round, Venturi closed with an So while Burke finished with a 7t which brought him the victory at 289. Venturi was next with 290 while Middlecoff trailed by a stroke at 291