New-York tribune., 1908-01-06
ON THE GOLF LINKS.
Armaud Massy Ends Successful
Year sCith VictOry OUer Brad.

Arnaud Massey, the F'renchman who holds the
title OF open golf champion Of Great Britain. re-
Gently brought a close brilliant year by de-
featng James Braid. the former title holder. over
the Deal course The Frenchnsn won by up and
/ to play in a thirty-six hole match
This meeting on a neutral green was the outcome
of efforts on the part of Braids admirers. VINO
have been claiming right along that the Scot was
the better man. But one critic aptly puts IT,
The time has passed when Britons have any
Justification for saying. Under these conditions
or those conditions Braid will beat Massey 1t Is
due to the open champion to admit that both IN
stroke and match play he has proved his superiority
Braid"
MANY had argued that the sterling qualities of
Braid as a match player would carry him through
successfully. but though he was at one time up
Massy played the better and secured victory that
will live long of the most memorable In the
history of the game in recent years.
Although a genuine Scotch mist was prevailing
when the rivals teed up it proved to be an off day
for Braid. at least far as putting was concerned
There those who have claimed that success at
the game OF golf depends the mental attitude
for the time being On this particular occasion the
mental attitude OF Braid not attuned to put
ting. for. except at the first few holes, he never
seemed to be quite himself.
AS for Massey. his game at times was brilliant.
even audacious. AS the match progressed the
Frenchman became more and more deadly with his
mashie, going far occasion as 10 hole out
approach and again to jump stymie at
critical stage.
During the morning Braid outdrove his man. and
in this way secured certain advantage at the long
holes, but later in the day, when the champion
really settled down to work. he quite held his own
off the tee. With Is to his credit, Braid retired
for luncheon 1 up. Massy's card read 81. The
latter went out in 36 in the afternoon, against 30
for Braid. while the eight holes of the homew-ard
journey were reeled Off by both in 3d.
In the large gallery many well known golfers
credited with 70 at Deal The latter figures. how
ever. not made In a competition Braid and
Massey to meet in home-and-horne match in
April.
IF the stymie is to be barred in match play. it
seems almost certainty that such action will be
taken against the wishes of the professionals. who
are TO a man in favor of the present rule. The
howl that has been going up in the West against
the styme has failed apparently strike re-
sponsive cord even among the amateurs. save In a
few instances.
DR.. j. G. Mcpherson, the veteran foreign critic
who is strong advocate of the stymie often refers
to shot he John Ball make six years ago.
He says:
SIX years during the amateur championship
syme for half. Anguc MacDonaid's bali was on the
M Ba pnt ne an % apGn' apn on an h as @ % & hs h s %
r sPps T1s to pa ak M the e 9 the & sdfe q a
halting oserbaiarced Itself into the hole and
have done this successfully. masterpiece Of
Allan Robertson.
Alec Smith. former national open champion in his
book writes in part as follows:
have been asked if favor styme play ard answer
that do. Stynfes have always played
IN match golf and there is real golf without them
OF course there is luck, hard luck a
stmie laid you. but how about the lies through the
grcen?
Moreover some pretty strategy to be employed
in laying styrnie against the other chap
player tries lay stynie in preference hong
his own ball-that would be simply throwing away a
srroke But suppose playing long
putt and can only hope to lie dead Your opponents ball
is. will two feet 10 the left of
play should then be for the left edge
putt does not, there that il may
stop between adversarys making
his holing difficult problem.
Again, opponents ball lies IN a straight
yours. but beyond the hole You must be to hit
your ball hard enough by few
inches. and lay the syIne same holds
good when the two balls in line adversary
Is the hole. You stynei
being long putt. have small chance getting down
Be then lay ball dead OF
getting the inside position for ball. thereby reversing
the original situation.