GOLF CHALLENGE DECLINED

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 5

GOLF CHALLENGE DECLINED

COTTON TURNS DOWN LOCKE’S FIVE HUNDRED GENE SARAZEN’S CO^xENT Henry Cotton, highest-paid golf professional—he is credited with making £IO,OOO a year out of the game—hit the headlines again in England early in February. Bobby Locke, young holder of the South African, Irish, and New Zealand

Open titles, challenged Cotton to a £SOO seventy-two holes match on the winner-takes-gate-money principle. Cotton declined to play because Locke is not a member of the Professional Golfers’ Association. Gene Sarazen, one-time British champion, attacked Cotton because he demands a £2OOO guarantee before embarking on an American tour. “What’s wrong with this British chap Cotton?” asked Sarazen, in an interview with Reuter in Florida. “He

forgets that Hagen, Armour, Eobby Jones and I used to go to Britain every year to make their Open Championship a real affair.” Not For Love Cotton’s reply was: “This British chap Cotton is the same fellow who beat Mr. Sarazen 4 and 3 at Leeds five years ago. Mr. Sarazen did not compete over here for love of country. He did it to put up his market value.” With regard to Locke, under the rules of the P.G.A., he must serve a five years’ apprenticeship before being admitted to membership. He turned professional a year ago. “If he won the British open this year it would make no difference,”

said Commander Roe, the secretary, last night. “There is no appeal against the five years’ clause. “You cannot blame any member for safeguarding his own profession, and that is what Cotton is doing.” Since the above was written it has been cabled that Reginald Whitcombe, last year’s winner of the British open, has accepted a challenge to play Locke over 72 holes for £SOO. This match will attract world-wide interest. It is to take place in England in June just prior to the open championship. Whitcombe, who is nearly twice as old as Locke, is one of the finest golfers in Great Britain, and, brilliant player as the South African undoubtedly is, Whitcombe will probably be favourite. Challenge matches for large stakes have been fairly common, and the biggest stake that ever depended on a professional golf match was in the 72 holes contest between Abe Mitchell and Walter agen. That was in 1926, and the stake was £SOO a side, Hagen winning by 2 and 1, after being 4 down at the 36th.