GOLF

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 13

GOLF

APPROACH OF OPEN CHAMPION. SHIP. THE FORM OF POSSIBLE WINNERS. BY “CLEEK.* At Roe hump tun, England, there was held, up April M to 10, one of those minor golf tournaments which excite *u much interest l*eoause they provide n means of estimating the form and chances of some of the leading players. The interest in their form is all the keener because the open championship is now ho near. the qualifying rounds anti the first round of match play at Rochampton,' we find that the following eight professionals were still competing:--Ta'lor. John Henrv. Veteran and five times open champion, who was in the prute list last year. Duncan, George.—From Aberdeen, the meteor of professional golf in Britain, who has so often flattered, "only to deceive.” Robertson, Peter.—Not so well known, but one of the best of Scottish professionals, with a very good record in competitions during the past few years. Boomer, Aubrey.—Channel Islander, (origin, also, of Yardon and Taylor), and one of the most brilliant of the younger school of pros. Compston, Archie.—Of Manchester, who won practically all the professional events last year in Britain, beating Mitchell at Glencagles; was second in the open championship, 1925. Mitchell, Abe.—Once a gardener, now the uncrowned king of golf, in the opinion of many; beat Compston, November, 1925, decisively, in a 72 holes match. J. Smith.—Of whom I know noth- , ing. save that he is a long driver. W. B. Smith.—Who has been a consistent good golfer in professional ranks for several years. These arc only some of the leading British professionals whose form and whose chances against the invasion of American golfers are being discussed in every golf club-house. In the case of this particular tournament the outcome of the play will have justified the prevailing estimate with regard to form. Mitchell is sure to be the first favourite in Britain for the open, and after him should come Compston, Duncan. Ray, Gadd and Boomer. Possibly C. A. Whitcombe, P. Robertson and Gaudin should also be mentioned as justifying their inclusion in the list. There arc always a few “dark horses,” and their appearance adds to the interest and the excitement of the great event. The Roehampton Invitation Tournament finished as follows: — Mitchell beat Compston. Robertson .beat Taylor. Duncan beat Boomer. W. B. Smith beat J. Smith. DUNCAN S RETURN TO FORM. In the final, Mitchell beat Duncan, and consequently the position of the former as first favourite is stronger than ever. At the same time it is particularly gratifying to find that Duncan seems once more to be in great form. George Duncan is a most dashing and powerful golfer, and because of his swift and inspirational methods, very fascinating to watch. For a couple of years or so he has not been doing anything very great, as a master of the" game, and this fact has meant a distinct loss to the wide public who follow very closely the form and the achievements of leading players, both British and American. This temporary declension on the part of Duncan has by some been dated back t* his trip to America a year or two ago. The opinion is commonly field among British professionals that the American trip, in which some of the leading players indulge, has an unsettling effect upon one's game. However that may be, it is true that both Mitchell and Duncan, who visited U.S.A. together not long ago, have, both of them, been somewhat in the shadow ever since. They seem to have emerged once more into the brilliance which we are accustomed to associate with them both as golfers.

AMERICAN BORN V. BRITISH. A NEW DEPARTURE. I hear of a most interesting international golf match which has been planned to take place some time in June, when the American professionals will be in Britain. This is a new departure, the first match of its kind, and is sure to arouse great interest. It seems that Walter Hagen has accepted a challenge to lead four American-born professionals against four British. The condition that all four must be of American birth is the first item of unusual interest. It rules out a few of the outstanding men, such as Jim Barnes, present open champion, who hails from Cornwall; MacDonald Smith, of Carnoustie. Scotland, first favourite 1925 for the championship, and leader after three rounds of play; Willie Macfarlane. who won the U.S.A. open last September after a phenomenal tie with Bobby Jones; and it rules out also R. Cruickshank, who has just won the Florida championship with 289. Macfarlane comet from Aberdeen; and a doaen > ears ago Cruickshank was a promising young amateur in Edinburgh Hagen must therefore choose his three hopes outside these men already men tinned He will probably, by this time, have asked J. J. Farrell, Gene Saraaten and Leo Diegel to form his team against the British four. These three, in any case, are bound for England and the open championship, and should all available. Farrell tied with Cruickshank the other dav for the Florida championship; Leo Diegel was the opponent of Ilagen himself last autumn in one of the most exciting and lung drawn out of golf tics ever plavcd. a tie which was ultimately won by the indomitable Walter only l»ccause he was able to rise to the occasion and do the. needful again and again to save him •Hi from defeat. Gen© :«raxen won the U S A championship a few vears ago, as well as various state championships since then. Together with Hagen they form a strong team, and their fighting qualities are as great as their golfing prowess. THE BRITISH FOUR. To nv*et this American born qu..♦ette I have no ditfi. ultv in * housing three, at once for the British team, namelv. Mitchell. Compston and Duncan I need hard I v discuss the reasons for mentioning these three redoubtable golfers. In any case present, form is the chief ground for the selection of them. But the fourth man is the difficulty. One writer puts Havers into the team, but I would not choose Havers. In 1923 Arthur Havers won the open championship. but that constitutes nearly all his gulfing achievements, and he has not the power of personality which Coenpston and Duncan both have, nor the power as a goiter which Mitchell commands. I would put forward Gadd or Boomer or Ray, for the fourth place in that British team. CONDITIONS OF PLAY. These two teams of four professionals are to meet each other during two

THE KOVAL AND ANTIENT GAME Ol-

days of golf; and each player will meet each member of the opposing team, in a match of eighteen holes. The number of holes up after the eighteenth hole has been played will be credited to the winner of each round, and the decision of the whole engagement between the two teams will be arrived at. by the comparison of holes up credited to one team with the number of holgs up credited to the other. The result will be a direct figure in holes, browing the advantage of one team over the other. T do not recall any important gulf event combining all the features of this forthcoming international match.