GOLF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12887, 13 June 1936, Page 11

GOLF

BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

If not a big one, the contingent of American golf player:; lor the British Open Golf Championship at Hoy lake will at any rale be select. In addition to J. Thomson—the world’X longest hitter, and a young man who learned in’s- golf at North Berwick—Gene Sara/.en, T. D. Armour and Horton Smith have announced their intention of competing. Sa razor. a fiery little man with the strength of an ox. won the title at Princes Sandwich, three years ago. Armour, a former distinguished Scottish amateur who went to the States to seek tamo and fortune, won tho title at Carnoustie in IW3I.

The championship in that year was noteworthy for (lie collapse of Jose Juratio at (be last three holes when the title was virtually in Ills pocket.

As ail. amateur Armour described himself, not without justification, as the -“world's- worst puller.” Grossing Forth Bridge one night, after playing in the Scottish championship, lie threw Iris -putters, 12 in all, th, lough the carriage window into the i-ca below. “In the. future,” km id Armour, as the last of the clubs disappeared, “I sdradl stick to one puttar for good or evil.”

Horton Smith is- a tall young; man. who was, originally a, farmer’s boy in the Middle West. Being ambitious ho (turned to golf and was so .successful that in on© season ho won £IO,OOO in prize .money. A careful man, Smith is reputed to be one of the richest professional golfers in tho world.

Law,son Little ha® - also planned; to m'aike the trip with his bride of two months ago. There are many Americans who think that Little, who, recently turned! professional, will go very near to winning the British championship. Then Jim Ferrier, the Australian champion, and Bobby '.Locke, the South African star. .- will- be two cockerels who will have something to say at Hoylake.

POOR PUTTING .I ! - . Muchiof the poor putting prevalent m golf to-day is, dine to grasping the putter haft- too tightly, says- a, Victorian writer. Nearly all golfers who have received acclaim, for their putting grip'the club lightly. They may vary their . methods of > striking- the ball, but their grip is uniformly delicate. This;,enables, them to stroke gently, using a. .smo-otih back swing and follow through. Bobby Jones, who was noted for the strength of hishaincLsy which could hold a club firmly •no matter how thick the divot, had a- most gentle grip with hi.s; putter. Ted Ray provides another example: He' was a big . golfer whose angular body often made him appear awkward through the fairway, but once on- the green he handled his putter delicately and accurately. Remember that' on slow or wet greens a. tighter grip is advisable for best results.