TOMMY ARMOUR

Evening Star, Issue 21055, 18 March 1932, Page 5

TOMMY ARMOUR

■ ■ AMERICAN SKETCH OF SCOTTISH GOLFER An article written by an American describes Tommy Armour, the groat Scottish golfer, who is now in America, in this strain; “ Thomas 1). Armour, Blade Scot, Soldier of Fortune—born September 21, 189 G. Known as plain Tommy; his family calls him ‘ Tam,’ “ Born in Edinburgh. As a lad his hobby was billiards and his hero Sidney Fry. Learned his golf over the Braid Hills course with Bobby Cruickshank and Willie White.

“ While in prep, school in 1914, went to war. Joined up for a lark, with Cruickshank, figuring to be home by Christmas. When the armistice was signed, Armour was recovering horn a gas attack, which had cost h'm the sight of bis left eye; Cruicky was wandcing around Belgium, an escaped pi'isoncr.

“ Armour rose from private to major in ranks. Selected with one other man to give machine-gun exhibition before tho King. Wore gauntlets, but completely assembled the sixty-one parts and fired the gun, all in twenty-one seconds. Threw away his ivar titles and his tunic ivhen hostilities ended. Said ho didn’t care to become a professional hero.

“ Yet helps to maintain the legend of being badly shell-scarred by never taking a shower in a country club locker room. Actually lias only one wound, a small nick beside bis Adam’s ; ppie. Injured left arm was in perfect shape when be came to America in '920. Throe years later it began to wither, probably from an, injured nerve. “ Has wrists of steel. Bated the greatest iron player in the world, so won most of his major titles by superb wooden dug play. Owes his golf training to bis brother Andy, who was teacher, father, mother, and adoring lug brother in one. Has another brother, Willie, who is pro. at Aix-les-Bains. “ Armour knows the odds on all gambling games, and is a baseball

fiend. Fussy about bis tailor. A great dancer; marvellous sense of I’lytbm. Smokos cigarettes incessantly. Tanks up on gallons of milk; boasts of his gain iu weight before each championship. Actually tips 105; stands 6ft 2m in bis stocks. “Never went to college at Edinburgh or anywhere else. Went to war before be was eighteen, makes himself out years older than bo is; has plenty of grey hair to prove it, and talks of matches be played thirty years ago! “ Bets bis own money on his golf. Can quote golf rules verbatim. Aims all tee shots from right to left; claims it makes the course twice as big. Believes you can’t pivot too much; says the right elbow must never leave tlm right side. “ A most lovable adventurer—a wanderer and gipsy, who figures someone else will pack his bag, buy his railroad ticket, call the taxi, and do the -roivying. Ho is right. They do.”