GOLF CRUSADERS

Evening Star, Issue 18093, 7 October 1922, Page 11

GOLF CRUSADERS

“ BRITAIN'S STRONG 818 FOR U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP."

[Written by Harry Vardon, for the ‘ Evening Star. ’]

Britain, having lost her open golf cham-

pionship to the United States, has a chance to restore the balance in the American amateur championship, which takes place in the week.beginning September 4. It ought to be a very good chance, too, for the British representatives will consist of eight of the greatest amateur players in the country—namely, Mr C. C. Aylmer (Ranelagh), Mr John Gaven (Oochrame Castle), Mr Robert Harris (Royal and Ancient), Mr C. V. B. Hooman (Burnham and Borrow), Mr W. Willis Mackenzie (Mortonhall, Edinburgh), Mr C. J. H. Tolley (Royal and Ancient), Mr W r . B. Torrance (Edinburgh, Burgess), and Mr R. H. Wcthered (Royal and Ancient). And probably there will bo other's, notably Mr B. Darwin (Woking). This represents by far the biggest endeavor ever made by Britain to capture a golfing laurel on the other side of the Atlantic, Hitherto, crusaders bent on 'these missions have usually hunted in couples, and sometimes even as lone traveller’s in a strange land. If the large party of English and Scottish players in America come empty away, then indeed wo shall have to admit - that to win the American amateur championship has become as difficult as to secure fie American open championship—or even our own open championship. This latter we have lost to the United States for two years in succession.

Frankly, I cannot for tho_ life of mo understand why it is that British players find it so difficult to do justice to themselves in America. True it is 'that I have not been there since 1920, but in that year there did not seem to bo anybody very terrible to beat. Edward Ray gained tho open championship then, and 1 tied for second place. The corresponding event at Brookline in 1913 was 'really an easy event to win, and I say this in spite of the fact that Ray and I were defeated by Mr Francis Ouimot on pfaying off a tie for the title. Mr Ouirnet conquered us by his brilliancy _in that extra round, but in the competition proper both of us frittered away ,so many chances that at the finish wo could nob help thinking how comfortably we might have won if only iwo had taken our opportunities. Having missed so many chances, it was a very big surprise for both of us to find at the finish that we had tied for first place. Hi all sincerity, let me set down the remark that tho hardest American championship in which I ever played was that at Wheelon (111.), in 1900. And at that time I really could hit a ball. J. H. Taylor was over on that occasion, and he chased me desperately closely all tho way. Moreover, there wore some very fine golfers resident in America, notably Willie Smith.

EIGHTEEN -OR THIRTY-SIX HOLES? British efforts to secure the United States amateur championship have been until this year spasmodic and unorganised. Mr H. H. Hilton gave them a slant in 1911, when he went over alone _ and triumphed. He and the late Mr N. F, Hunter went over together in the following year, but were conquered fairly early. After that, there was a lapse until 1920, when Mr Cyril Tolley, as tho reigning British amateur champion, Lord Charles Hope, and Mr Roger Wcthered entered tho lists-. Tins looked a very promising expedition, 'but not one member of the party survived tho qualifying rounds —a very sad blow to British golf. Naturally, the visitors c-arao back with high opinions of tho standard of American amateur golf. That standard is, indeed, splendid, but it is not so omnipotent _ as to bring about the downfall of British players in the humiliating manner of two years ago. Last season Mr W. I. Hunter reached the semi-final of the United States ama-teni championship, beating Air Bobbie Jones on the way. If only our representatues next month will set out with tho conviction that they just as good a chance as anybody of winning and ncvei mind the wonders of American -golf-very likely they will bring back the cup. incy have the moral encouragement of numerical strength, and, when, you are trying to gain 'an honor abroad, there is a greatdeal in knowing that there are several oi you at it. Ploughing a lonely furrow is a trying ordeal. . . Everybody agrees that to survive tne qualifying test for the United States championship —a test of thirty-six holes by score play —is in itself a triumph. Only thirty-two competitors emerge to take part in the match stages, and there may bo 200 or more candidates. All the same, I think that a, man worthy to rank as tho champion of a country ought to be capable of finishing in the first thirty-two in any scoring competition. _ If ho cannot do that, ho is faT from being a complete champion. As for tho American principle of playing all the matches over thirty-six holes—instead of eighteen holes, as in Britain I feel after a life-long experience of the game that it is sheer eccentricity, or a pandering to the love of false excitement, that makes a lot of people say that the thirty-six hole principle is wrong. It _is the only principle that offers a consistently good chance of rewarding trio better player in a. mate!), and the best player in a championship. The story that a man ought to be capable of jumping right off the mark and over eighteen holes, if he deserves to win, is all moonshine, as anybody who has played a lot of golf under many conditions knows to the full. SPECIALISTS IN RECOVERY,

I am inclined to think that thirty-six holes matches will favor some of our players in the American championship—assuming that they struggle through the qualifying stages. For instance, Mr Tolley is by his own confession, corroborated by his record, a slack beginner; bnt ho has shown himself many times to bo a brilliant finisher. Ho is just one of those men whom one would far sooner back to win over thirtysix holes than over eighteen holes, because the longer journey gives him greater time for recovery.

’ Mr ‘Wcthered, another very big Britishhope, plays plenty of erratic rounds, but -ho seldom plays two in succession. Consequently In’s chance ought to bo the better for tho long matches, since, if he suffers his bad round in the morning, he will have his opportunity of retrieving it—which is all that a mortal asks.