CLASSIC GOLF DUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 August 1926, Page 10

CLASSIC GOLF DUEL.

HAGEN-MITCHELL MATCH,

AN AIJOKLANDER'S ACCOUNT.

The classic golf duel between Walter Hagen, of America, and Abe Mitchell, of England, for a stake of £500 a-side, was witnessed by an Auckland golfer, who records impressions of the match. Says the writer, who followed the o-ame closely, the interest of , the contest was enhanced by tho contrasting personalities of the players. Hagen, after a night in the train from Lancashire, stepped on to the tee in immaculate attire, with black hair sleek and glistening. His is a forceful personality, and he radiates self-confidence. Mitchell, on the other hand, is not eeen until the moment for his turn to drive, when he appears from the spectators, gets away a beautiful ball, and steps back into the crowd again. Where Hagen Scored.

The first 36 holes were played over Wentworth, Virginia Water, in dull, cool weather, and as the result-of .somewhat patchy play by both men Mitchell tended the day with the substantial lead of 4 holes. The second half was played at St. George's Hill, Weybridge. Play was timed to begin at 10.30. It was 10.55 before Hagen appeared, and the effect of waiting on a sensitive player like Mitchell, who wae ready to tee up at the arranged time, must have been considerable. I did not hear that any excuse was given by Hagen. In the first six holes, by perfect play and uncanny putting, he won four holes, and Mitchell's lead had vanished. Hagen was 2 under fours. Then began level pegging until the tenth, where he putted out from 30 yards away, giving him the lead of 1 up. The morning had become exceedingly hot, and Hagen seemed tq revel in the sunshine. At the fifteenth he secured a 4 to Mitchell's 5, and became 2 up. Mitchell reduced this to 1 up by sinking a long putt at the seventeenth. Both played perfect golf at the eighteenth and halved the hole in 4's. Hagen's morning round wae the remarkable one of 68, and of that sum only 30 were taken on the greens. The figures were:

Hagen.—Out: 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 3, ♦ -34. In: 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4—34. Mitchell.—Out: 4. 5, 3, 4, 5. £, 5, 3, 4— 38. In: 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 5, 5 3 4—35.

When the Strain Was On. Starting on the final round at 2.45, with a gallery of some 3000, both drove perfect balls. Mitchell, was on ib 2. while Hagen was well below thi» green. However, he chipped almost dead and halved the hole i% 4. Ai the second from level drives he agate took one putt and halved in 4. With his tee ehot at the third Mitchell was three yards from the pin, while Hagen's ball lay in the heather to the right. Studying the approach carefully, he put it within two feet of the pin. Mitchell made a great effort to hole his putt, but halved the hole in 3. Hagen outdrove Mitchell at the fourth (274 yards), and, putting his welt on, once again holed hie putt. Mitchell was short, and took 4. time allowing Hagen to again become 2 up. v At the fifth Mitchell missed his drive and could only put his second on the fairway, reaching the green in 3 to hia opponent's 2. However, the unexpected happened, and Hagen, over-running the hole, missed the return putt, giving, chrll his chance to halve in 5. At the next hole Mitchell placed his second within two yards of the pin. His opponent, after a poor second, played a wonderful recovery shot from the rough and ho-ied out for 4. Mitchell, to the crowd's relief, secured a 3, and reduced hie deficit to 1 down. Hagen's second was through the green at the seventh, while Mitchell's ball lay close to the pin. The crowd held its breath while Hagen's runup shot with a mid almost holed out. An Exciting Finish. Again each halved in 4. The short eighth found both balls on the green. Hagen played first, and the hole was halved in 3. After level drives Mitchell played a beautiful second, and excitement was intense while he attempted' a 6ft putt for a 3 to square the match. The ball did not fall, and Mitchell for the first time tried the putt over again. This time it dropped in and the crowd applauded.' Both players had gone out in 34. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth holes were halved, while at the thirteenth (422) Hagen again putted successfully for a 3. He was now 2 up and within eight of victory. The heat was now very intense, but very few of the crowd had fallen by the wayside. ' By fine determined play, and errors by Hagen, Mitchell won the next two holes and squared the match. The excitement and interest of the gallery rose as the players reached the sixteenth tee. Hagen still looked and walked like the winner, while Mitchell seemed rather weary of the game. He frequently sat down on the greens while waiting to putt. Fine recoveries with his-second shots and weak play by Mitchell gave the American the next two holes in 4's—a putt of eight yarde by Mitchell for a half at the seventeenth just lipoinsr the hole. So ended a very remarkable struggle, and the "match championship" goes to America. The afternoon scores were: Hagen.—Out: 4, 4, 3, 3, 5, 4, 4, 3, 4— 34. In: 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4 Mitchell.— Out: 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 3, 4— 34. In: 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 5.