Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-16
THE PASSING OF JAMES BRAID
BREAKS UP MOST REMARKABLE
RIVALRY ANY SPORT THASKNOWN
Triple Competition in
Golf With Vardon and
Taylor Lasted Over
20 Year Stretch
BY GRANTLAND RICE

TUE passing or James Braid from the
i Ancient Green into Golrs Valhala
whore his place viii he high, breaks up the
most remarkable rivalry that any sport
ever has kuown--thc closest triple competi-
tiOn over the longest stretch Of time.
Nardou--raylur- Braid--thc three great
est names in golf and now only tho two
Englishmcn are left. with Scotland's entry
listed with the past
Braid Is Eonc--but the story OF his TWEEN
ty'ycar rivalry with NardDn and Taylor Will
live In sport for more years than most OF us
ever viii know II ia the story Of n COM
petition unparalleled aud unparagoned
The Long War
You have heard much OF the rivalry be-
tween Cobb and Spcaker-bctween Travers
and Evaus--betwecn Travers and Travis.
These rivalrles in comparison seem as
mere hrcaths OF time. For Braid. Nardon
and TAYLOR have been at war for golf SUI
premacy for twenty years and the cOmpe-
titIon was the closest any game has ever
shown.
Some time ago Harold Hilton arranged
the complete figures for this twenty-year
rivalry In British open championships with
the following remarkable results:
NardOn. C23i strokes,
Taylor. GAS strokes.
Braid. G2ii strokes,
When you put three entries together over
championship route for twenty years, and
at tho finish the third man Is but four
strokes away from the leader-the mere
matter OF par ON one hole that calls for a
drive aud ptch-the amazing evenneSs
Of the play can be appreciated,
The Close Average
The average number OF strokes per
round for the twenty years shows again
the Closeness of the competition:
a IN ha nj
Taylor, 1897.
Braid, 1901,
When these contenderB travel in this COM
pact situation for so long time 1t would
take a bold expert to say that one was
better than another, or that any difference
existed great enough to be recorded. OF
the three Taylor got the first jump; then
Nardon followed, and after this came Braid
where. for the twenty years the cham
plonshiD stood as follows; Nardon, six
chamionships; Taylor five championships
Braid. FIVE champlonshlps--the great trio
having won sixteen out osthe twenty title
events from two decades ago.
Varying Styles
while the great trumvlr moved along at
almost exactly an even pace for close upon
n quarter OF century, they proved again
that golf Is not game for any set style.
The play of the three was totally unlike
In many features. Braid had the greater
power, the longer distance; VS-.on had the
better accuracy: Taylor the greater
steadiness from tee to the cup.
one peculiar feature is that Vardon
started out a fine putter with the old ball
and Braid a very poor one. Then later on
Braid developed into very fine putter,
while Vardon's putting went to pieces cost
ing him at least three additional champion
ships.
Their play In regard to short approdch
shots also was different Taylor depended
almost exclusively upon mashie pitch.
with back spin, played boldly to the cup.
Braid depended in the main on the pitch
and run. Nardon depended upon neither
style, shifting the shot to meet the ooca-
sion.
Braid's ResouTcefulness
Jerry Travers, who played against Braid
al Walton Heath three years ago, was
greatly impressed by the Scots wonderful
reserve power.
III certain remarkable shot had 20 be
played comments Jerry, Il believe Braid
would have come closer than any others TO
putting the miracle safely over. recall
that in my match with him over his home
course l was playing the best golf / knew
how TO play. 1 had a Very low score and
so at the end OF the sixteen holes l stood
one up.
Il expected to hnlsh even with him at
least, but he won the next hole. squarlng
Then while / played the fast hole In
par, Braid planted one OF the finest shots
l ever saw to within three feet OF the cup.
ANA SO won the hole. finishing one up
But all the way through he gave evil
dence OF having a lot OF power and play
IA reserve--the feeling that he always was
playing well within himself-Rnd when the
time came could let out the necessary kinks
and win.
BRAID was fne putter and a long driver,
but the mostimpressiye feature OF his game
was the great determination he put into his
play when he came 10 a dlmeult shot the
boldness and the confidence he put into the
stroke In other words, II he happened 70
need ten or twenty yards more than his
normal distance he could always get H."
With Braid missing. Nardon aud Taylor
stlll expect 70 carry GA the anciept seruEEls
IA ease he var doesn't last beyond theig
Waning yea1z
1sf made fh.ir aE4i Appearance d tie