Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14
Fourth Division.
GOLFLAND GOSSIP.

Eben NJ. Byers a more finished golfer
than Walter j. Travis,
This is the startling opinion aired by
''Niblick," the golf critic of the Illustrated
Sporting and Dramatic News, an English
publication.
In commenting the report that Byers
would play in the British amateur cham
pionship at Hoylake next May, "Niblick'
says:
IF the statement proves correct. the Hoy
lake meeting will be even more interesting
than the average amateur championship
Mr.. Byers is undoubtedly the most finished
golfer that the states has yet produced-a
far more finished player than w. ]. Travis
of New York, who secured our champions hip
at Sandwich in 1904 Mr. Byers competed
on that occasion. and created a great deal
OF establishment 10y beating G. +. Dick the
Scottish international player. in the second
round but he was subsequently defeated
after tie. by DIR. j. Williamson of Rich
mond. He is not big, but this driving is
very long, owing to the extraordinary
amount of run that he gets on the ball. But
the best feature of his game is his approach
ing. which is uncommonly good"
The foregoing cannot go unchallenged
II is the highest kind of praise for Byers
but, with all due credit to the amateur
champion, it is hardly true that he is
more finished player than Walter j. Travis
or ii. Chandler Egan, both Of whom were
ranked above him by the critics here at
the close of last season. in spite of the fact
that Byers was the title holder The de-
ciSlve victory of Travis over Byers in the
Myopa tournament late last fall is still
fresh in the memory of all golfers.
Byers Is a strong. consistent and at times
brilliant player. however, and would be a
worthy representative of this country if he
decides to play for the British title. That
he would be able TO duplicate the record of
Travis is quite improbable. although he
could be depended on to give a good ac-
count of himself. even among the high-class
players who will drive off in the blue rib
bon fixture OF the English golfng world
Old Tom Morris. at eighty-fve recently
had new experience in golf. He used a
rubber-cored ball for the first time at St
Andrews fortnight ago. Years ago he
was one of the first to take up the solid
gutta percha ball, and Tom split with his
partner Allan Robertson, because the lat
ter insisted that the firm should stick to the
feather ball and ignore the new invention.
On the recent occasion the veteran found
two holes enough for his strength but all
st. Andrews rejoiced just to see him handle
the clubs once again
Harry Vardon merely smiles when you in
Innate that he has his superstitions like
most other golfers. II is obviously SUPER
ing again with that wonderful putter with
which he won his very first championship at
Muirheld when he had TO play off the tie for
first place with Taylor, Just as II was super
stiton which led him TO use II on that &C.
Casion.
Despite Vardon's having thus tied in the
general competition. his putting had left
something to be desired. Between then and
the play-off he happened to look in Ben
Sayers' shop at North Berwick. and he saw
an old cleek in the corner. A queer idea
came into his head that he would putt finely
with that cleek il he dared use it. 1t was
bold thing to do, but he had the courage
of the presentiment, bought the club. had it
reshafted and then in the final struggle put
ted In simply amazing fashion with II. Peo-
pie said there was the, devil in Vardon when
he was on the putting greens that day.
When Vardon had won his championship
he put the putter away. and from that day
10 this 1t has rested idly in corner of his
sitting room. There have been many times
In recent seasons when he has putted badly
and when he has lost great deal In conse-