GOLF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 5

GOLF

By Divot NEW BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION Still another strong favourite has finished among the “also started" in the British Open. A. D. Locke looked at one stage as though he might worrv the leaders but the new champion is a British professional Richard Burton. His comment after playing his last round of 71—“ I thank all my fellowcompetitors for allowing me to win ” —seems unduly modest after such a magnificent recovery Burton led the field by one stroke at the end of the second round, but a 77 in the third round brought him back to fourth place. Out in 35 in the final round, he started the second half in the knowledge that he needed a 37 for the title A 3 at the last hole gave him a 36 and completed a splendid round in stormy weather. “A strong wind to gale force and heavy rain in the morning” was the cabled description of the conditions, so that Burton is entitled to full honours for his win

This success keeps the Open title in Great Britain for the sixth year in succession. Perhaps it will be considered sufficient offset to America’s clean sweep at Wimbledon where United States contestants won all five titles in most convincing fashion. Burton’s aggregate of 290 gave him a margin of two strokes from Balia. R. A Whitcombe. noted as a bad-weather golfer, finished with a 74 to be one of the five who totalled 294. Locke was two strokes farther away, and T. H Cotton still another two strokes back

"COLOSSAL” WOMAN GOLFER “What would happen to men in sports in which they could meet women on equal terms?” asked a mere male when he read of the golfing ability of the American woman athlete Babe Didrikson

This young woman, who is the wift of the wrestling champion, George Zaharias. met Charlie Conners me Victorian professional champion, in a private exhibition match at Victoria on June 30 One critic who used, as he said. “ to scoff.” remained to praise and declared that she was “ colossal.’ and added that if she entered for an open handicap she would be rated “ at one or two, if not scratch.” Conners won but he was loud in praise of his opponent’s skill and ability. She (outdrove him at the second and third with magnificent shots of 245 yards and 250 yards respectively. ,Mr Hugh Anderson writes: —"The length of Miss Didrik son’s iron shots was also on a par with her drives. After her 245 yards' drive to the second hole she took a No. 5 iron to cover the remaining 175 yards and finished pin high. At the fourth 173 yards into a head wind, she was on the green with a No. 5 and at the seventh (175 yards) into a stiffer breeze, she put a No. 4 iron 3ft past the pin. Her bunker shots and approach pitches were good. Her judg-. ment on the greens was not good, and her worth as a putter therefore cannot be judged." In a return match at Yarra Yarra Miss Didrikson gave another impressive exhibition, which drew from the critics the exclamation. "Marvellous, just marvellous.” Conners, who was out in 32 and finished with 71. won, 1 up off the stick. His opponent’s score was 36—36—72 and this playing from the men’s tees The record for the women’s course, which measures 5071 yards—Bos yards shorter than the men’s —is 77 Everyone who has seen her says she is easily the best woman player ever seen in Australia. Arthur Spence, the Yarra Yarra professional, playing in the same exhibition, took 80 approximately. “SECRET OF GOOD GOLF” I cornered Ralph Gundahl, double winner of the United States Open, in a locker room the other afternoon and said to him: “What do you think is the most important fundamental in golf?” (writes Lawson Little). “Lawson. I feel that the correct position at the top of the swing is the secret of good golf. Because if you are in a wrong position at the top of the swing it is practically impossible to hit the ball correctly.” " Ralph, tell us how you get into this correct position at the too of vour backswing.” Bend at Waist Constant “First. I might describe the position 1 feel that I am in at the top—l feel that my body is turned or wound up well to the right—that I have control of the club with the left hand and arm —the left hand grip is firm—about 70 per cent of my weight has been shifted to my right foot—with the balance mainly towards the heel —my wrists have been completely cocked—and, above all. my head has not moved out of the position it was in at the address, in other words, the bend at the waist during the address has remained constant during the backswing and is the same at the top of the backswing as it was at the start

" It takes plenty of practice to make yourself sure of making the same backswing each time —this is what makes for consistent play. As to how I make myself get into the position. I can only sav that I concentrate upon the proper order of movements. I feel that the club, hands, arms all move back together as a result of the turning to the right of the hips, the pivot “The final movements in the backswing are the lifting up of the left arm and the cocking of the wnsts. Then I am in a position' to deliver a powerful, controlled blow to the ball. I feel that I pause instantaneously at the top of the swing then let ’er go. “ Thanks, Ralph; if that is what you do it’s good enough for me.” Whitcombes tor Golf/