New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

How many Of the new champions In sof. tennis
baseball and football can hold the championship
hut the dope snsnt the occasion Is somewhat a,
iels~s.)
No. /. GOLF.
The clan around the nineteenth hole
will now come to order (unless some
one desires to buy AGAIN. while dis
cussion is resumed regarding the pro-
spective golf champions for the year.
Last summer Walter Hagen, the
young Rochester pro, displaced Francis
Ouimet as open golf champion, while
Ouimet in turn wheeled around and
seized the amateur crown from the
brow of Jerry Travers.
The question therefore before the
house is about this: Can Ouimet de-
fend his amateur crown? What chance
has young Hagen to repeat as McDer-
mott, Alec Smith and other open cham
pions have done in the past?
At Ekwanok last September three
golfers were picked before the tourns--
ment started as having the field sewed
I'D. They were Jerry Travers, Francis
Ouimet and Chick Evans. Evans was
cut down in his first round by the dead
~ approaching and tine putting oil I'D
Byers, but with Chick eliminated Trav-
ers and Ouimet cut their way through
TO the final, where Ouimet won.
Unless some decided upset arrives,
these three golfers will again be picked
70 win against the field when the next
amateur clash is opened over the course
of the Detroit Country Club. One OF
the "big three" is fairly sure to finish
first. and if there is one favorite TO be
picked, the best bet LOOKS 70 be Francis
/ Ouimet, who with every department OF
the game considered and temperament
added is the soundest amateur entry
1 in the L. s. of A., and one OF the sound
est in the world, despite his last Euro
/ pean venture.
Ouimet, Travers and Evans.
Ouimet will be hard champion TO
displace. He isn't any better fighter
/ than Travers nor any better with the
/ iron and the .putter. But he is better
with the wood, and this gives him quite
an edge Against Evans he isn't any bet
/ ter from the tee and through the
| fairway, if as good, for Evans is a
| driving marvel and master Of the
| irons. but Ouimet is better putter'
has less Imagination and has better
control over his nerves.
When Travers takes his place on the
| Cotton Exchange he expects 20 play
| little tournament golf. he says now
| that he doesn't intend 10 enter either
the metropolitan or Jersey champion
| ships, although he may change his
mind when spring comes and the lure
! of the game begins 10 beckon him back
/ 20 the ancient green.
Ii he doesn't play quite a bit Of golf
/ he will have no great chance against
/ Ouimet in 36-hole match. provided
Ouimet plays anything like as much
l golf as he did last year Last season
/ Travers played very little golf through
June, July and August, and so was at
a big disadvantage when he met the
young Bostonian. who had been sea-
soned for match play from April into
| September's test.
And until Chick Evans wins his first
championship he will be at big dis
advantage against either Travers or
Ouimet. who. having won. have big
psychological edge.
What Winning Means.
Few people realize what il means 10
win golf championship. Travers won
his first one az Cleveland in 1907. He
had Archie Graham down and TO
play, with a 3-foot putt to settle the
title. The match was practically over,
yet he says In making that winning
putt he was so nervous that he could
hardly hold a putter.
III the match had been close" he
said. II never would have made II. just