The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-07
Dy JOHN g..

The Southern professional season Is
on. The exodus OF the big golf profess
s~ionals-though the term big does not
signify greatness Of stature-means mat
the meet seasonal BILE TIM OF the year IN
the South is at hand and the guests at
the various hotels In the land where the
breezes are warm and balmy are ready
t. subscribe purses and watch with re-
newed interest the best players in the
country. Ten years ago Il was only the
favored few among the professionals
who went to the South. but to-day the
number OF pros who have clubs and who
take trips to the big tournaments num-
Der well over a hundred.
Contrary TO the general belief the
average professional does not come rome
With a goodly amount OF money in his
purse. even II he happens to be one of
the golfers who does finish with more
than one frst TO his credit. The rail-
road expenses must always be met by
the player and 1t takes a good hundred
dollars to cover these even with the
most ordinary Of Journeys. The food
question. thanks to the generosity OF
the hotel proprietors. seldom means that
much money will have to be turned into
the hotel treasury. for the pleasure
which IN. players give the guests IL
considered a s;andoff fS the presence
of the paid golfers.
When Il, is considered hat the guests
al the different hotels. for the most part
nowadays. are golfers in fact or IN
embryo. 1t will be seen that 1t IS adj
disable 10 have as many of the pro
golfers as possible taking part in these
events.
tn. South Is where the new profe~-
sioaal. o. rather the player who has
come into a decidedly advanced game,
can match his skill with "A greater
chance OF success against the big Eel
lows. The courses. for the most part.
are shorter han we have up North. at
fording those who are not lengthy
drivers an even chance, provided they
aye good approaches and putters. The
experience which mas been gained 10y
i,aAy of these players and the confidence
which has been generated By success
has meant much to more than on" golfer
who is now prominent. Tommy kerIi-
gan was little known outside OF his
state until two years ago, when he
pla yed such fine golf IN Florida and at
Pinehurst. Thomas and Mcdonald were
at their best IN the South and the same
is true of other pros who are now on
the upwdrd climb
II Is usual for some TO prediC; the
winners Of the open championships
which AT. held throughout the land.
soon after the southern trips are over,
although each years guesses hav. never
been found accurate IN the slightest de.
gree. II might hr interesting Il; this
time. however. to speak about IN"
chances Tor tie winners this year. Az
hitting that II Ia gucsswork at best. but
presenting as proofs the style @; game
which the various professionals have 10
back VI the claims for theft expected
success.
When the toll OF professionals is taken
II will h. seen that the list OF those sup
posed to be eligible for places one, two
or three I'm III. open events of III" most
importsa ace would contain ,he following
" j. Brady. j, NJ. Barues. j. \. Don
aldson. W. g. Hagen, i. l.. Hepburn,
k~errigau, Low. Mcleod, o McNa-
mara. Mcdonald, Nichols. Reid. Saith.
Sargent. Teller. Hutchinson. Campbell
and "a few more whose acquaintance
with the Miuikahda course Al Minneap-
oils will stand them IN good stead
II might be possible for u player 80
Interested even at this early date to pre-
dict with a VERY good chance Of success
the names Of a dozen and "A alt play
ers who would have in their numher the
majority OF prize winners. The reason
IL seems 10 me. lies in the fact that the
professional golfers Of this ountry ar.
to-day progressing AT an even stage
with signs OF Improvement on every side.
and Il Will take the exceptional 10 win
a lasting favor and reputation.
The best reason for tn. upward trend
is the Youth of Me bcst players. \
golfer cannot be said t. have passed
the zenith ~ his powers uDtl n" is
near the MY year mark 80 FAR as tho
championship chances are concerned no
golfer between forty and forty-nNe
should he left out Of the reckoning, hut
i, is between the ages Of tWcnty-three
and thirty eight when the player staras
the strain tho best. Whatever Is los'
In the physical line az 'he age Of thirty
eight IL gained uy the wealth OF expert
once which has bee accumulated in
the preceding years. At the age o.
twenty three the professional has begun
10 realize that the game IL more than
a SPORT t. him. tina; Il IL his livelihood
ia truth. and that s"r.ousncsS mus play
its par, II he IL To take an cary place
in the golhnS pages 81 note, The vice
tories OF Mr.. Outline, were all tho greater
because Of his youth and iu"Np"rlenc"
a fact which today Is TOO often lost
sigh; OF
Michael BRADY has seen championship.
in his grasp provided he could make q
fairly good last round IN the open 1T.
fault has not been that his game went
back on him ~ much, and by thai
mean e change IT, SWING which comes
to n, or 4 lotdnNu IN putting hrcaus,
ar ,.1eaR,fa, at, g, ,lntuilg 1,.,hc. y, ',le