Player meets his master

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33664, 14 October 1974, Page 32

Player meets his master

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WENTWORTH. The American, H. Irwin, added the Piccadilly world match-play golf championship to his United States Open victory by beating the defending champion, G. Player (South Africa), 2 and 1, yesterday.

Irwin, who was one down at the start of the last 18 holes of the 36hole final, won the match on the thirty-fifth green when he was leading by two holes. Player and Irwin were both on the green in three but Player, needing a birdie four, watched his putt slip past the hole. He immediately conceded a half to Irwin without making him putt. Player, who has won the title five times, for once met his equal in nerves ahd steadiness.

Irwin began his winning charge on the twenty-first hole when Player topped his second shot and slipped to a one-over five while Irwin had a four. With the match tied, Irwin won the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, and each time it was his putting that made the difference. Player threeputted the twenty-fourth green while Irwin holed a 15-foot putt on the twentyfifth. Player regained a hole at

the twenty-ninth when Irwin missed the green with his second shot. However, it was Player who was the more tense of the two golfers and he again three-putted the thirty-first hole for Irwin to go two up. The remaining holes were halved. In the semi-finals, Player never trailed against the 27-year-old Californian, J. Heard, and recorded a 5 and 4 victory. Irwin defeated A. Jacklin (Britain) by the same score.