The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-05-16

ing contest this season, followed up with
fine score in the low seventies but In
dicative OF lessening power.
Somehow or other the war time layoff
from stirring golf battles has affected
the playing power OF the three golfers
noted. Vnrdon, who seemed to be In
good putting fettle at the time OF his
winning the last British open event, has
not kept the touch. and Is once more In
the throeB of q "stabblng putt" which
on the smooth greens at Deal may cause
him trouble. Braid, with eyes not
wholly strong and at time worrisome.
still continues TO bang away at the ball
are nearer the II than the 15 mark, Just
enough above to miss the crown. And
Taylor, the spokesman for the trio. who
proclaims with vigor that although they
are over the half century mark In years
they all still possess the golting power
as OF yore. finds that he is a bit more
self-conscious. that he ia forever trying
too hard. that Il IL as easy for the best
OF them when bit nervous to miss with
frequency as for those reckoned strokes
worse and that his game is under the
constant scrutiny OF critics who. while
sympathetic, at the same time profess
to see signs OF weaknesses fundamental
Press Open in Statements.
Tho press has been open in statements
OF doubt as to the probable success In
the real championship play OF any MEM
ber OF this group, whereas o. few years
ago II would have been treason of
ztxAw w.s.tlx l. Ns...A
word OF concern. The glory OF Mitchell
and the awakening OF Duncan have
swept the links and their inhabi-
tants. No longer is there n distinct
cleavage line between the trio and the
next In order. Ray. Duncan and Mitchell.
The Triumvirate. It seems, is no more
Now when you have been member Of
group which has held the heights for
quarter Of a century the fighting blood
which has brought many hard fought
victory in the past asserts and reas-
serts itself, and we find the old guard
literally with their backs to the wall
fighting hard for their old time and
frankly acknowledged supremacy II
matters little to them which one wins
80 long as one OF their number leads the
field. They realize that age must tell
some time, but not this year nor next
nor the next, to quote from Taylor him
self.
I'VE have three chances to the one
Of an aspirant to the title. Never have
we been pushed as appears likely this
coming championship by outsiders, and
we will give an exhibition Of battling
against the opinions OF the press. the
beliefs of the pros and the sympathy
which we do not need nor crave. Hold
back any condolences until the seventy
two holes are over Many the time the
young players have shone in prelimina-
ries and lost when It came to the real
rub, the nerve racking putt, the tricky
mashie pitch, the placing Of the drive
against a hard blowing wind. an Iron
shot with the needed fadeawaV, a Braid
cleek shot from a cuppy lie making the
earth tremble."
It's good to hear such confident talk
from the players never given to boast
ing. II heartens the thousands OF fol-
lowers who will follow no one else. In
the olden days the crowds would gather
to watch the inimitable style OF Vardon.
the deadly mashie work of Taylor, and
The long iron work and long drives of
Braid, trying to get a line on how It was
done and absolutely confident that low