New-York tribune., 1913-08-16
British Professionals Lose No
Time in Starting on
Their Tour.
READY FOR OPEN TOURNEY
Praise American Players, but
Show More Interest in
the Weather than in
Their Opponents.

with Nlirld Reid. professional OF less
renown. reached port on the Celtic last
night. All are here to play golf. win tho
national open championship. II possible
and gather in American shekels. II was
all new to Ray and Red. but not so to
Vardon. who was I'm this country thirteen
years aSo.
Standing alone on the deck of the Celtic
as she approached Quarantine. Nardon
and Ray were met by a. W. TulnshaSt'
a we'll known amateur. and both visitors
appeared heartily clad 10 see h'ul. Ohr
Of the first questions Nardon asked was
Who won the Metropolitan open We
heard bv wireless that McDermott was
leading after the first day with two lis
When informed that Alec Smith had
won the title. Vardon smiled and merely
observed He's a fine player. FROM
that moment until the great steamer was
made fast TO her dock at the foot o.
10Th street. the conversation savofed OF
golf Both Of the visitors apparently
were anxious TO know more about th7
courses here the weather and the aoih'y
cf the resident players.
Before leaving the steamer a NUMBER
OF Eng!ishmen friends OF the golfers bid
them farewell. expressing the opinion
that while both could not win the open
they boped the form.e er British champions
would finish !, 2.
'Ill admit" said Ray, I'VE are not
here on a junketing trip or for a lark
Both Harry and I would like nothing bet
ter than TO win your open championship
al Brookline. It's a hard matter. though
for any one or two golfers to successfully
20 through a field OF class
When asked what ne thought OF JACK
McDermott. the American open title hold-
er. who competed at Hoylake a few weeks
ago. Vardon did not hesitate TO praise the
Yankee. Vardon was frank to admit mat
il was a harder proposition to win mere
now than when he captured the United
states Golf Association open title thirteen
years ago
II was noticeable that both RAY and
Vardon appeared more concerned ABOUT
the weather they might meet while mere
than the players. Ray said you kno"
We nlav in coats. and / understand its
uncomfortable warm in this country al
times. but no matter what the weather
might be I'm afraid We Wouldh ud'e
leave off the Jackets. This may De
silly notion on our part. but you Know We
all have our peculiarities.
As Raw talked his beloved pipe Which
he smokes almost constantly, was much IN
a,,idence Vardon also was smoking a
nine and as they stood on the deck
dressed in dark clothes and stra" mats
they appeared as veritable giants. ar
don looked the picture OF health, and AT
orst rlance even larger than Ray VINO Is
Zoo, inches in his stockings and ouiIt
IN proportion. .,.,..-s
While sailing UP the Bay the Nlsl'oiS .
scanned with interest the skyscrapeTs III
Tho lower section Of the city, and as var
don's eve caught sight or the Nooi"ol !"
building he turned 70 his companion with
tho rorark. ''It would be full cleek shot'
Ted from the top OF there TO the grouhu'
rbere had been an impression that sew
oral of the French professionals wouid Dc
on the same steamer. None was thcre'
h,vovsr. and Vardon offered the informa-
,or hat Teller would be here on the
Majestic next Weeh' - AN'
doclared .here was some doubt, II oelng
nv no means certain that the former
French and British champion would set
bore even in time 10 compete IN the open
at Brookline
Anropos OF the Frenchman. both Var
don and Ray declared that these pros
were really strong players and they dio
not attempt TO disguise the fact that IN
their minds the better team won at La
Boulle.
az reckon we will be kept quite busy
filing ENGAGEMENTS while here observed
Vardon The former open champion SAID
n ne had his way he would not take part
in many matches before the open.
Both visitors said that they had heard
that A. H. Findlsy. who is arranging
their tour. is rapidly booking them up In
all directions. Hereabouts II seems as
good as settled that they will appear al
the Nassau Country Club. Fox Hills COLI
club. Baltusrol and Brooklawn.
They also may take part In an exhibit
,iou at Spring Lake They VIII leave
Shawnee on August "a. going West 10
take part in exhibitions in the vicinity of
. I. n
upon their time from points as far West
as the Pacific Coast but at present there
is doubt as TO whether they will journey
that far
Before reaching the dock Vardon asked
anxiously about his old friend Findlay.
Both visitors admitted that they had had
a hard time refusing numerous engage
ments. which had they tried TO fl would
have kept them at home and busy right
up until the end OF the season.
Here Ray chimed in with the observa-
ton that he expected George Duncan
would "clean up" pretty well in the line
OF matches. while they were away. adding
with twinkle In his eve that likely
Duncan's path would be less thorny be-
cause OF his and Vardon's absence.
Vardon who is ever willing 10 give
praise where II is due, did not neglect
70 speak a good word for j. IL. Taylor,
who scored popular comeback when
he won the open championship Of Great
Britain in June. Vardon said 1t was a
pleasant surprise 10 many. but that none
begrudged him his success.
When the Celtic was warped TO the pier
the visitors were greeted by number OF
brother professionals, including Alec
Smith. VIII Smith, Gil Nichols, Ben
Nichols. Fred Mcleod and Jack Jolly.
As they came down the gangplank a
band was rendng the air with weird
noises. That's for you said Alec
Smith, turning to Vardon and Ray. Both
Ill a