GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19365, 23 July 1925, Page 6

GOLF

GOLF MAGNATES KIRKWOOD’S PROSPERITY'. £lOO AN AFTERNOON. LONDON, July 11. “He’s one of the new golfing millionaires, ” would aptly describe some of the AmoricAn iirst-flighters at present visiting England. Men like Macdonald Smith, Barnes, and Kirkwood are talking in sums that arc staggering to their poorer English and Scottish colleagues, who arc glAd to receive to 3s 6d for one hour’s lesson, augmented by a 2s tip. “Why worry?” smilingly remarked Joe Kirkwood, when the special reprejsentative of The Sun offered his con|dolcnccs upon the Australian’s lapse ot form during the recent Open Championship, and other big-money matches. “I receive 500 dollars for an afternoon’s exhibition match in America,” Kirkwood added, “and I am booked tor nearly a wear ahead. Even mor? profitable arc the demonstrations at America’s leading departmental stores, and also stage demonstrations. Mv trick shots believe me. have provided a big drAw in New York city. AUSTRALIAN TOUR UNLIKELY. “I should say off hand, that Hagcu, Barnes or I would require. 500 dollars apiece and all expenses for a six weeks' visit to Australia, but I am doubtful whether we could spArc the time owing to lhe clashing of the Australian ana American seasons. “I lost interest in the Open Championship at the seventh hole, when a well-directed shot struck a spectator and rolled into a ditch, instead of reaching the green, I took eight for that hole. “Recurrent attacks of hay fever interfered with my subsequent play, and it was more entertaining to join the galleries. “I was disgusted with the exhibition of the spectators’ ‘sportsmanship.’ At the most, critical moment of .Macdon aid Smith’s championship round, a Scotsman shouted, ‘Why don’t you take a blanky shovel.’ It is unlikely that any of the Americans will compete in the 1926 Open Championship unless it is held on A closed course.”

TOMMY HOWARD, A REAL CHAMPION HOW HE WON THE CUP SPICER'S GALLANT FIGHT Tommy Howard, the Concord professional. played the best golf of his career in the semi-final and final of the Sun-Herald £5OO championship on the Royal Melbourne Club’s links at. Sandringham (says a Melbourne message to a Sydney paper of July IL) The match between Howard and Spicer is described as one of th° best ever witnessed in Australia. There were not the thrills of last year, but the golf was solid all though. The final of the Sun-Herald £5OO golf competition, between Tommy Howard and Wally Spicer, played over the Sandringham links, provided one of the best matches ever witnessed in Australia. The thrills of last vear’s final were missing, but for downright honest golf the gamp would be hard to beat. As I forecasted a couple of days ago, so long as the players were playing bogey r better, Howard was sure to win. Howard made two mistakes. He pushed out his approach at the eighth, and found the small pit bunker on the right, and he putted weakly on the 13th, missing a putt of a little over a yard. Both opportunities were grasped by Spicer, to the accompaniment of loud cheers from the large crowd which was tuned up and appreciated the fight the loser was putting up.

Spicer put up a great battle, but Howard was his - master throughout. Never before have I seen Howard in such perfect touch as he was in the semi-final and final. He was at the top of his form, and was undoubtedly the better player. There was nothing spectacular in his play, but for solidity he stood alone. His drives were well on the fairway. His approaching was sound, always on the green, with lhe possible chance of holing the next, with the exception of the short putt already referred to at the 13th. NOT A BLEMISH. Tn the afternoon there was no blemish in his round. Knowing whom he was up against, he played the game accordingly, and made his opponent make the pace. The pace was good, but well within Tommy’s limits. Spicer made a good spurt when four down and six to play. He won the thirteenth in four to five, and Howard’s tee shot being too strong at the short fourteenth ho promptly took advantage, and reduced his deficit, two up and four to play. It was different from 4 up and six to play. But lhe end was near. Both had good drives at the fifteenth, but Howard’s second never left the pin, being some twenty feet short of the flag. Spicer was on the right hand side of the green, and overrunning the hole, loft himself too much to do with the return putt. He missed it, and Howard won the hole in four to five. The sixteenth was halved in fours, leaving Howard the professional champion of Australia, a title which he has; thoroughly earned. His play the previous day in the semi-final, against Rowley Banks, and in the final against Spicer, was of the highest class. There was nothing spectacular about his game,. He holed an occasional long putt, but rarely missed a short one, and therein lay his strength. It is the little ones that count. Tommy made certain that the little ones did count. PRAISE FOR SPICER. Too much praise cannot, bo bestowed upon Spicer for the fight he put up. The only loose shot hp played was his short approach at the twelfth in lhe afternoon. ft was a puny effort, but as it happened did not matter, as he secured a. half in five. Howard going close to holing his long putt for a four. At the conclusion of the game. Lord Stradbroke, when presenting the prizes,

congratulated the players upon the fine game they put up. Tommy Howard, in responding upon behalf of the professionals, expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the committee of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club to make everything run smoothly. SERIOUSNESS OF CROWDS. The competition was a. great success, and will do a lot of good for the game. The crowds following the games wore more serious than in amateur events. The impression was sinking in towards the end of the game that Spicer was out-driving Howard, and that fact was duly noted. Howard, with a comfortable lead, was playing well within himself, while Spicer was making the pace the hottest he could. It was sound tactics, but he was up against the best player in Australia, and also a sound tactician. Spicer reduced the lead, but could not wipe out the deficit. It w r as a great effort, but lacked the brilliancy which would have ensured success. It was a memorable final worthy of the occasion, and as a wearing-down contest the best I have seen. Howard was always within himself, master of the situation, and at the wheel all the time. He dominated the position throughout. He w’on well and truly as a champion should.