Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-04

AT the elcvent hole return of nervous.
ness followed, and the tee shot was topped.
Again Travers pulled himself together
Clipped his third to the green and sank
another putt for another four.
The nutter continued through the twelfth
hole. Here, with an easy 30-yard pitch
to the green and a possible 3, Travers ap-
preached 80 feet too far. putted within 4
feet of the cup and then missed the next
putt,
But from that point on, although his
face was gray and drawn, he pulled him
self together by a tremendous effort and
finished one under par.
But as the last putt dropped he was
literally a nervous wreck for the time
being, and at least two days passed be-
fore he could recover his balance.
II felt worn out for nearly a week after
ward" he said later on.
Like Travers
This Baltusrol episode is a very fine
Illustration of Travers' golfing tempera-
ment
No golfing star in the world has gotten
in more trouble and then been able to
work himself safely out. It is the un-
daunted spirit of the man that has counted
so strongly for him.
No one can ever forget Travers in that
side trap at the eighteenth hole at Garden
City in 1913. When Jerry came to this
final hole he had seven strokes left to
qualify-to barely slip in. His mashie shot
dropped into this abysmal grotto into an
almost unplayable lie. He played three
shots and was still in trouble His fifth
barely got out and he was down in 7,
in twelve-man tie for last place.
This upset him, naturally. He knew
that he wasn't playing good golf. And
hA FnH
his first 1S-hole match when his opponent
Robert c. L. Watson, started off 3-2, 80,
three strokes under par. But Trayers
won out And the next day he was hurled
against Ouimet, with this uncertainty still
lingering in his subcOnscious mind and
though Ouimet was moving at top speed.
by series of remarkable shots and more
remarkable recoveries, Travers beat him.
3 to 2, although the star Bostonian was
leading through the 27th hole.
Two Types
AS 1t remained for Travis, starting his
golf at the age Of SO and returning VIC
tories beyond so. to prove that winning
golf did not belong exclusively TO the
young, so 1t remained for Trayers In this
country TO show that winning golf was
not matter OF Drawn, bulk or power
Jerry 8 normal weight is around 14O
His hands are small, his fingers being al
most delicate, His wrists are by no means
thick.
Yet, by the wonderful timing he gets
his driving iron shots frequently travel
240 yards under normal conditions. He
has a terrific lash to this shot-the one
that has saved him most when the wood
failed him in the hour Of need.
Down the Shaft
why" several have asked US, does
Travers keep the tip of his right thumb
pressed against the shaft on all ap-
proach shots?"
Because" said Jerry 'in this way
1 get a keener touch. Approaching is
a matter of control and direction. / have
found that l can only control my direction
and distance on the shorter shots better
by using the tip OF my thumb as a gauge
or guide than 1 can by using my entire
right hand or even my entire thumb. /
find also II helps TO brace my right wrist
and the right wrist Is an important factor
in short approach as the blow here is
struck with the right hand"
Travers, at the age OF 27 has al
ready won four championships and one
open championship. His only serious fail ]
ures have been abroad In the British
amateur, where In two starts he was
beaten both times In his first match
He now has but one ungratihed ambI-
ton left, and that Is, some day, when the
war Is over and England has resumed her
rounds OF the winding green turf. 70 make
ons more trip over and try TO even up
for his two British failures. This chance
win not come Tor several years. But at
2T one still has : long way 20 look for
ward Ia golf-for Travis. the only Ameri-
can thai ever won = British aaatenr,
triumphed when be was -.