GOLF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 11

GOLF

A. GAME WITH, GENE,

QUIET HUMOUR AND PERFECT

CONFIDENCE.

No sign of temperament—not the slightest-touch of ego in his make-up —a perfect confidence about every shot he plays—and. a quiet humour which would pass unnoticed if one did not have sharp ears—that is the world star golfer, Gene Sarazen (writes Con Simons, in the Sydney s “Sunday Sum”). In Sarazen’s ishort stay.in Sydney bid popularity has increased day by day. To strangers lie is just as coil is deoils ns to close friends, having a kindly answer to fiung at him during a- round and! taking words of advice about tho lay-outs of the various courses on. which he has ployed like a than new to the sport. But to appreciate, this little American, one has to walk around with him and listen to hie? softly-spoken humour and his frequent good-natur-ed abuse to his caddy whom sorc.»thing goes wrong. However, Sarazen decs not have everything hi s own way with his caddy .-as the latter often says hareli words to the American, when a. putt is missed or some error is made on the way to the green, hut generally Sarazen has some effective retort which completely silences the lad with the lingo hag. For instance, at Manly the caddy complained, “He blames me for everything,” the words being uttered when lie thought Sarazen was out of earshot. It was rather unfortunate for the caddy. Sarazen. simply replied, “Is that so? Well, I’ll have to get a few more clubs for you to carry to-morrow.”

A stony '.silence and a glare from the caddy were all that Sarazen received >.u reply.

Then there was the incident of Sarazen’s first appearance at Kensington. From the tee to the. 178yds. 11th,, Sarazen asked his caddy what clul) he should use. “A No. 4 iron,” was the reply. Sarazen, after looking at the hole, w.hjch iviir; almost hidden, expressed some doubt, but eventually took the club and hit a beauty. It covered the pin all the. way, and at one period appeared certain to drop in the hole. The crowd “rode” the hall, but it stopped eight inches from the tin. A fo,w minutes later Sarazen had a look at it, and then turned to one of the club officials and said, “You know, that hov should have given me a No. 3 iron.”

His introduction to the course was through the clubhouse windows, but, like a true champion, it held no mysteries to him. As lie walked on to tho first tee he asked, “Where do I bit these shots?” Kirkwood pointed out the first hole, a>r.d Sarazen crashed hi; drive as near to- the green as ho could (without getting in the rough or the hunkers. lie laid his second dead and sank a birdie three. He soon shovcu where he was going to hit those shots. What a golfer!. Walking to the 16i;h at Kensington, Sarazen wan told that he could break 70 if he did a three, three, four for the last three holes —one under par. “Boy, I must be a good golfer after taking a five at a short bole.” he said. “Now. let me see. A three, three, four. Where arc the last two holes ?”

Shewn the lay-out, Sarazen measured the distance of the hole with his eye—he had no card—and said. “Consider it as good as done.” It was. What would hundreds of golfers give to have the same confidence in their own ability?

Before he hit off at Kensington, Sarazen- gave an exhibition of various shots,' and he .soon had the crowd gasping with amazement, as after Baying that lie would do certain shots, the hall would unfailingly follow his directions. Once he announced that he would play a slight hook with an iron. The hook duly appeared. “'Now this will he a long ball,” said the American. If was, outdistancing all his previous woods. This wont <m for some time until -Sarazen asked if there were any questions. A bewildered onlooker Ba *d lie had one very vital question. It was, “How do you got that way?” “It’s a gift, hoy,” replied Sarazen.

With 'the Fcrricr-Hnttcrsloy and Sarazen-Kirkwood match, at Manly at a. vital stage—all square at the 17tli—Sarnzen’s .supreme confidence wa s revealed. He was the only one actually on the green, in two —12ft from the pin—and after nil the other had missed with; their tlu'rdn and were still feet from the hole. Sarazen, without the slightest fuss, walked up and conceded all the putts end then said to: his caddy, “Could you putt this?” The caddy opened Ids mouth with amazement, and while he was think 7 iug of a- reply the American, without a. blink of an eyelid, dropped the hall in the hole for a- birdie throe and a win. Then, throwing his chib to his caddy, said, ‘T knew you would.” “I suppose if ho had missed! it he would have blamed me,” paid the caddy sotto voce.

Going to the 11th at Manly Kirkwood sliced hi s drive underneath a hush and had a. most awkward stance. Actually he had groat, difficulty, in •hitting the hall at all, and! when he only dribbled it a few yards and was deeper i,n the rough, Sarazen remarked, “There’s Joo up to bis trick islibfii again.” Kirkwood’s, face did! not give the impression that ho, wa.s going to do any trick shots. When lie was missing linkable putts in the open champiorfship Sarazen showed ho sign of dismay, hpr did ho allow the other departments of ihis game to go astray. Walking to the 17th he looked at In's hail and said, “I suppose I’ll have to sink this putt. I am about duo for one.” Someone expressed doubt and Sarazen-added,, i! I don’t know wliothor I’m" cock-eyed or whether the green is cock-eyed, hut it isj years since I’ve seen putty? slide, past «• hole and finish up at the hack -of it.” And now for a word about the Australian crowds. One could have pardoned Sarazen for,_ heimg a little upset with galloping spectators at Manly, hut lie,said that crowds, did not worry him. “If I am lucky

enough to dra w the crowd, then, T have to take what is coming to me,” he said. “If people come to see the game, they have every right to see as, much, a,s they cam for their money. Ip, my brief time hero I have not a iworcl to say against the Australian crowds. They have been excellent toward me, and are far better behaved than many gatherings overseas. I haven’t heard any of that barracking which, I am told is pretty strong out hero hut there have been hundreds of witty remarks, and, Behove it or not, they are a great help to a player when he makes a mistake.” And so perhaps we can call Sarazen, “Philosophical done.”