Golf

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 November 1938, Page 3

Golf

COMPSTON BACK IBy Air Mail-Own Correspondent | LONDON. 3rd November Archie Compston, one of the most ari resting personalities in professional golf, ; is entering on what he describes as a ; new career. For two years lie has been absent from the tournaments and cham- | pionships owing to an internal com- | plaint. For months he was on a eggj and-milk diet, but finally it was decided 1 that an operation was necessary to I complete the cure. lie has now reI covered from this, ancl. us a try-out, he , has competed in the Surrey county i championship. His form was extremely ; good. He declared that he had never driven better, and he is very hopeful of being able to resume his place in the front rank next season. Compston has been a tremendous worker in pcrsuit of success. With a patience which few golfers show, he practised many hours a day. and, even after he had started winning prizes, he continued to sacrifice his club interests in order that he might improve his game. Once after he had beaten Harry ; Vardon in a competition at Gleneagles, I he travelled twenty miles with the old champion, and then asked him how to play an iron shot. Vardon was his ; hero, and he realised that iron play was the secret of success. More than once it has appeared as | though Compston would win the championship. but always an untoward incident would occur to ruin his chances. I remember his setting off on a vital round at Sandwich, and he immediately proceeding to take four strokes in a bunker when one should have sufficed. Iri little more than a minute the prize which had seemed in his grasp had passed beyond his reach. Perhaps, like | George Duncan, he founded too many ; theories, and flitted from one to the I other. But at his best he was a great , player, and there is no reason why, with good health, he should not come back [ as a challenger for the game’s honours.