ON THE LINKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 14

ON THE LINKS.

Youth does not seem to be very well served in these days. Mr Ball’s victory at the age of 49 over the golfing youth of England (tho London correspondent of the Glasgow "News” remarks) makes that clearer than ever. Braid, Taylor, and Vardon are all over 40. Burgess, who swam the Channel, is over 40, and most of our tennis champions are past the allotted span, and tho old ones at cricket are still more than holding their own. Air Fry, for instance, was 40 in April. All our cniof actors are over 40, and most of them are over 60. Are our young men degenerate, or are our old men retaining their vigour beyond nature? Anyhow, the correspondent notes, there is no talk about “too old at 40” now.

Wtea Michael Scott, our very own golfer, who has just won the amateur cnampionship of France, after doing well in the West of hnglaud, was in these parts, he sot himself and his household at the very gates of the Sandringham links, in order to lose no time travelling to and from his devotions. lord hhion. who is Michael’s father, had Hereshoff, the American champion, staying with him in Portman Square, and the house party used to Uy westward in three motor cars. Osmund and Dears Scott, older brothers of Michael, and therefore nearer tho coronet, are also golfing enthusiasts. Mrs Michael, who was Miss Cecilia Bruton, of Sydney, is feverishly taking lessons in the family religion wear where father-in-law has given her a lovely country cottage furnished by Waring s. The head-of the house also gives his youngest son and his wife apartments in the town house, and a motor wherein to whirl to and from ♦ho country place. Baby Scott, who used to play on the Sandringham Beach with a golf ball, is luxuriating in a pony cart built to fit herself and nurse. One way and another, the Scoils are very comfortable, thank you. and manege to take life not too seriously. The fearfully high price. of golf balls is

‘about tho only worry they have—“ The Bulletin.”

THE ENGLISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

The cablo states that Edward Ray has won the Open Championship at Muirfield, with the splendid score ol 2Jo for 72 holes. Harry Vardon (open champion) was second with 299, and James Braid third with 303. Kay, the new champion is 34 years of age, and, like Harry Vardon, was born at Jersey. He is a tali man, and not unlike Braid in appearance. His record includes the following : —Reached the final of £240 tournament in 1993 and 1911, and the semi-final in 1907; won Northern section tournament in 1906, 1909, and 1911; represented England v. Sbotlaud each year since 1903; third in Open Championship in 1908; sixth in 1902; fourth in 1907 and in 1911; fifth in 1909 and 1910; eighth in 1905; ninth in 1904 and 1906; and 13th in 1903; finished second in the French Championship, 1911; third in 1906, and fourth in 1907.

Kay’s winning score of 292 has only once been beaten—viz., by James Braid, 291, at Prestwick in 1908, although it was equalled by J. H. Taylor in 1909 at Deal.

Nineteen Open Championships have been decided since Taylor, the first ol the three showmen or triumvirate (Braid, Vardon, and Taylor) to head the list, bad his name inscribed on the challenge trophy, and now the little band has no less than 14 victories to its united credit. Only Mr Hilton, Alec Herd, Jack White, A. Massey, and now E. Ray have succeeded in slipping in a win against them. Thest statistics are eloquent of the powers ol tiie triumvirate, and help to show what a wonderful golfer Kay must be to have prevailed against them. The final match between Braid and Ray in the “News of tho AVorld” Tournament in 1911 will long he remembered for the extraordinary recovery of tho latter from what looked like a hopeless position. At the ninth hole in tho afternoon Ray was 6 holes down. Six down and 9 to go against Braid on tho latter’s home course looked absolutely hopeless. But Kay rose like a hero to the occasion and actually brought the match to the last green, When Braid had to hole a short putt for a 4 in order to struggle home by a hole, Ray baying made a gallant effort to hole his third, which stopped a few inches short. In a review of golf for 1911 it was stated that Ray had certainly enhanced his reputation more, than aiiy player of his age, and that no did not look like giving way to his younger rivals in the race for displacing the older men. He still Tacked, so it was stated, the power of concentration that the veterans possessed, and at times looked to be playing positively careless.