BRITISH OPEN GOLF

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 44, 22 February 1936, Page 9

BRITISH OPEN GOLF

JIM PERRIER’S BIG TASK EFFORTS TO WIN BIG- EVENT. PLAYERS HE WILL HAVE TO MEET. The magnitude of the task in front of Jim Eerrier, the youthful Australian golf champion, in his effort to win for Australia the British Open 'Championship, virtually the championship of the world, becomes apparent when the calibre of some of his opponents is considered. The British professionals alone are a formidable 'group. Some of them performed with extraordinary consistency last season. C. A. Whitcombe’s average over 28 rounds of medal play was 71.8, a fraction more than Henry-Cot-ton’s figure of the previous year. To play 504 holes on all manner of courses, and in widely differing conditions, in a fraction under fours, calls, as an English writer points out, not only for the highest standard of golf, but an exceptionally equable temperament. Second on the list of British averages came Alfred Perry, the reigning open champion, and R. Burton, each with an average of 72.6. Perry is described as a dashing and fearless player, who goes for everything, and he arouses admiration for the manner in which he tackles the business in hand. He crashes every shot up to the pin, regardless of the risks involved. He is one of the play- 1 ers who have come to the conclusion .that championships are not Won by |he exercise of caution.

Does Not Always Pay. Going for everything does not, Jwyw» ever, always pay. Perrier threw away the last Australian open for that very reason, and it is not surprising that in British golf circles the belief is almost general that Perry will not win again. However, to win but' once is a great performance, and so Perry’s tactics must be regarded as justified. Burton is one of .the big hitters of the game, and has come on rapidly in recent years. However, in the Ryder Cup match, in America be was not a success, but the majority of the members of the British team fared little, if any better. Fourth on the list was ”W. T. Cox, whose average was 72.63 for 32 rounds. He was perhaps the outstanding player of the year. Like Ferrier, he is a man of exceptionally powerful physique, and he plays golf as if it. did not give him a pain, being in the possession of an exceptionally happy disposition. Henry Cotton was close on Cox’s heels with an average of 72.7, Alliss coming next with 72.9. Cotton again experienced trouble with his putting, and,' having secured a new stick and a new style, believes he has found a fool-proof method. He is not by any means the first golfer to harbour an illusion of that variety. Alliss was, as usual, very much in the limelight, and' was runner-up in two of the major tournaments. Seventh on the list of averages was Padgham with 73.95. Pagham’s best feat, perhaps, was to regain the title of British match-play champion, by a brilliant triumph over Alliss in the final.

Eighth on the list came S. L. King with 73.1, which included a recordbreaking round of 64 at South Herts. However, the English professionals made a disastrous showing against .the Americans in the international match for the Ryder Cup. Certainly they .did not reproduce the standard of play of which they have in Great Britain proved themselves capable. This was the more surprising, as they did soma very good practice rounds, which, however, they were unable to repeat in the serious games which followed. It looks then that Ferriar 's mos< serious opposition in the open will come from the men of the United States. But at this stage it is not known who will make the trip. (Densmore Shute, three years back,- set a precedent which everyone in Australia will hope Ferrier will follow. Shute won at his first try —a hitherto unprecedented performance. In the British open, and also in tha British Amateur aad the Scottish Amateur, Ferrier will be up against verv fine amateur exponents of the game) including possibly the American, Lawson Little, who, by winning both the British- and American' amateur championships for two years in succession, has set up a record which even Bobby Jones failed to achieve. To-day he is regarded as the world's best match player. It is not certain, however, that Lit.tle will make the trip.

McLean's Conqueror. But Terrier will meet Hector Tnomson and Jack McLean. McLean was regarded as tihe finest amateur in Great Britain, but last year lie bad to play second fiddle to Thomson in the finals of the Scottish and Irish championships. It will be recalled that McLean played in the British amateur team which toured Australia under the captaincy of Michael Scott. He won all the matches in which he played against Terrier, but the Australian is rated as a vastly better player to-day than he was then. It is said, in extenuation of his defeat .by. Thomson,, that McLean felt the after-effects of the Australasian tour, and that he was not so fit as he would have liked. But that reason is not convincing. Ferrier will have to go into the amateur championships with the knowledge that opposed to him will be a contender who has beaten his conqueror. McLean, in two major events.

Ferrier’s Itinerary. Ferrier will take part in the British open and the British, Scotch and Irish amateur championships. After the Irish championship, to be played on July 17, he will return via the United States, and he will play on a number of leading courses. Arrangements have also been made for him to play, on the outward journey, at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A net will also be installed on the “Largs Bay” to permit of practice during the voyage.