Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-05

latter to the rubber core ball, for which
with short faced clubs. socket shafts and
flat metal putters thanks are due to the in
vintive genius of the United States. Morris
began as an apprentice to Allan Robert
son, the then renowned st. Andrews player,
at the age of Is. He remained eleven years
with Allan and became so proficient that
he could play him on even terms and on
two occasions he beat him.. They quarrelled
because Morris upheld the new gutta
percha ball against the feather one. In
1851 Morris went to Prestwick as green
keeper and remained there for fourteen
years, then returning to the Royal and
Ancient at st. Andrews in the same capa-
city. He has been honorary custodian of
the office since about 1895, when an an
nuity was bought for him with some $4,000
subscribed as a testimonial by many golf
ers, including American amateurs.
AS to playing, from 1S49 to 1860 single and
foursome matches had Old Tom almost
constantly on the links, often with Allan
Robertson as partner. In 1851 Old Tom
did an 81 at st. Andrews. then a magnificent
score as whins everywhere %abounded to
the seward side and a very straight ball
had to be played to escape punishment.
The greatest foursome was that of 1s49,
III VIII Ala INpbEE AHOii anu AbAA "tA
pitted against the brothers Willie and
Jamie Dunn for e4O. 1t was arranged
that the match should be played over three
greens-Musselburgh. st. Andrews and
North Berwick-and that the match was
not to be decided by the aggregate number
of holes lost or won during the match but
that play on each green was to stand by
! self as a gain or a loss. The Dunns had
easily the better of the play at Massel-
burgh, winning by 10 up and u to play.
At St. Andrews Allan and Tom were the
winners by a narrow majority. At that
time the cleik had come greatly into use,
and 1t was generally believed that their
victory was due to some splendid cleik
shots by Allan. The final stage was en-
tered upon at North Berwick all even and
amid unparalleled excitement even in
these days of open championships. Sir
David Baird. who was referee, thought it
advisable to warn the crowd that If they
did not keep behind the players he would
not allow the game to proceed, but FORUM
ately this was not found necessary.
Long driving helped the Dunns on the
earlier stage of the game, and at the
luncheon hour they were 4 up with Z to
play. Tom and Allan was to all intents
and purposes beaten, and a Leith merchant
laid as much as % to l on their opponents.
In these disheartening circumstances they
played magnificently, and with two holes
to go they We're square. At the next hole
a huge curbstone on a cart track really
decided the match. The St Andrews men
had played three more and were landed in
a bunker. To all appearances the Dunns
had the match in their grasp. when they
played their ball in at the back of the
nYrrhgfOnn a1nGn fn the uniting cream
long and heated discussion now arose as to
whether it was allowable to lift, Jamie
Dunn strenuously insistingt that II was
and Allan declaring as strongly that II
should not be touched. Tom Morris and
Willie Dunn. always ideal and genial. stood
aside and allowed others to settle the point.
Ultimately Sir David Baird decided that
the stone could not be lifted, and before
the players had extricated themselves from
the difficulty they were so hopelessly be-
hind that the hole went to the st. Andrews
players. 1t is not surprising that after
such a trying experience the Dunns should
have lost the last hole and the match.
Play for the championship belt insti-
tuted by the then earl of Eglinton in 1860
at Prestwick was the initial of the worlds
annual tournaments. Willie Park, sr,, won
with ia. with Did Tom at 176. The next
day they played a match for 800 and
Morris won by 7 and 6. 1t was his turn to
win the belt in 1861, 1862. 1854 and 1867, with
scores Of 1853, 1853, l67 and 10. All the COM
petitions were held at Prestwick and the
conditions were that the victor for three
successive years should retain the belt.
Tom Morris. jr. with scores OF 154, 1871 and
149, achieved this feat in 1868, 1863 and 1870,
and he also won the first tournament for
the championship cup-the present British
open championship-in 1872 Young Tom
was the Napoleon Of the links until his
early death.
Old Tom laid out links in every part Of
the United Kingdom. He played a wonder
full game in old age, winning two profess
sional tournaments after he had passed 90,
and he celebrated his 64th birthday by do
ing st. Andrews in 81, nothing above a 8
appearing on his card. After he had passed
the SD birthday Ola Tom could return a
score for the old course below 90 Ameri-
can visitors to st. Andrews would find him
sitting at the door Of his shop with his
collie, Silver. He lived above the shop,
where the windows overlooked the home
green. From these vantage points Morris
would smooth out some dispute or detect
any delinquences on the green. One Sun
day, says a traveller, two town unchins
were larking there innocently enough when
Ola Tom, IN MS shirt sleeves projected ms
head above them and sent the boys off in
a panic by the short, sharp command?
Hands off that greenr'
On June 10 the committee OF management
Of the Royal and Ancient club and the
green committee OF St. Andrews held a
meeting to consider the question OF raising
a memorial 10 Old Tom. There was a sub
committee appointed to issue a circular TO
golf clubs in all parts Of the world inviting
subscriptions toward this object. The ma
ture OF the memorial will largely depend
upon the response. one suggestion being a
statute OF the veteran At some place near
10 or on the links.