The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-11

But Vardon has still another reputa-
ton abroad which he will carry with
him as long as he lives. He was the
first professional golfer to wear knick-
erbockers. Back in 1894 he appeared
at Sandwich practically unknown, al
tho he had competed in the British
open at Prestwick in 1898 To the
CONSERVATION of the gentlemen
players, the amateurs, he was logged
in knickerbockers.
This was regarded as "sWank" or
putting on side" for in England there
has been and still is a wide gap socially
between amateur and professional
linksmen. Abe Mitchell in 1918 was
practically driven from the amateur
into the pro ranks because he had been
chauffeur for Sir Abe Bailey, the
South African diamond mine owner.
Even this year, the fact that Walter
Hagen displayed several different suits
of golfing clothes, estimated at twelve,
served to incite wonder among the
critics.
VardOn began as many golfers have.
He was first a caddy, as early as 1877,
when he was Z years old He was liv-
ing on the Isle of Jersey at GrouviIle.
where a golf course had been staked
out the previous year. For his first
caddying he received sixpence G2
cents) a round, and his parents con-
munerative nor elevating and forced
him to quit it. In the meantime he
had fashioned some home made clubs
made out of limbs of trees, and a
knotty chunk of a club head, into
which he bored a hole for the shaft
by means of a red hot poker.
He went to work as a gardener, and
as golf grew in popularity in his com
munity he Joined the Workingmen's
club of 1inksmen, and soon became its
best player. In the meantime his
younger brother, Tom, had become a
professional. and Harry soon entered
the field, getting a berth at Ripon. a
new course in Yorkshire, later going to
Bury and Canton.
At Sandwich in 1894he finished fifth
and for the first time began to COM
mand attention. In 1896, after J. H
Taylor had won the British omen for
the second time. Vardon was matched
against him for an important exhi-
bition at BantOn. Vardon came off
victorious and thencefouth his ability
was established. During the same
year at the open title event at Muir
field, Taylor was leading the field
when he finished. Vardon knew that
| five on the last hole would be the
score and a four would win, but he
played a doubtfuIIy long second shot
purposely short of the green, took his
five and tied with the great J. H. On
the playoff Vardon was successful
after a magnificent battle and won his
first championship.
In 1898 NardOn won his second.
leading the field at Prestwick with a
307, after Willie Park, with two puts
on the eventy-second hole to tie, fail
ed in his putting In 1899 Vardon won
for the third time at Sandwich and
then followed his first trip to this
country when, in 1900. he won the ma
tional open at Wheaton, Ill, with 313.
Taylor. who accompanied him, was
second with 315.
During his visit here he won more
than fifty exhibitions, and has since
declared he never played better golf
in all his life. He defeated Willie Dunn
at Old Point Comfort by 16 and Is,
and at Scarsdale won by 5 and IA.
While the professional at Totteridge
he won the British open in 1903. but
then followed a lapse of eight years
during which he was in rather poor
health, which affected his game. In
1911 he won the British open for the
| fifth time at Sandwich, after a playoff
with Arnaud Massey, the Frenchman.