PROFESSIONAL GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 231, 23 June 1908, Page 7

PROFESSIONAL GOLF.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEIiEGItArn —press association— cofymghi

London, Juno 21. J. Braid, the professional player, won tho Golf Championship with a total of 291—a record.

James Braid is a Scotchman, having been bora in llarslferry, Fifeshiro, in 18(0.. Po is now the professional at Walton Heath in land. Ho first won the Open Championship at Muirfield (Scotland) in 1301, then again in 1905 and 19(V3,'wns second in 1897, 1002, and 1904, third in 1900, fifth in 189G, 1899, and 1903, seventh in 1898, and ninth in 18M. In 1907, when he finished fifth, he was the favourite for' tho blue ribbon, but was in vory indifferent health, and did not do himself anything liks iiistice. - Ho now shares the unique honour with Harry Vnrdon of being the only present-day Kolfor to have won tho Open Championship on four separate occasions. The competition tins vcar was held on the links of the famous Prestwick Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. Ihe competition consists of four rounds of eighteen holes each, undor medal play rules (strokes), and as Braid's total is 291 this shows an aTorago of 723 per round, which not only constitutes' a record, but is a remarkable jiotformnnco over a course presentinf! such difficulties as the Prestwick Links. The winmns? totals on the last three oocasions upon which tho championship meeting was held at Prestwick were:—ln 1593, 322; in 1898, 307; and in I'JO3, 300.